Crime & Safety

Wyckoff Masseuses Charged In Prostitution Sting

Detectives were solicited in sex-for-money operation at Royal Massage, prosecutor says.

WYCKOFF, NJ – Two masseuses from Royal Massage were charged with engaging in prostitution as part of a weeklong investigation by a local, county, and federal law enforcement task force.

Fong Zhen Wu, 53, and Ge Li, 51, and 10 other employees at massage parlors through Bergen County were charged after undercover detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office were solicited for sex in exchange for money as part of a joint human trafficking initiative, said Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said Friday.

Wyckoff police Chief Benjamin Fox said Detective Sgt. Joseph Soto and Detective Ryan Noon assisted the Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation and arrests. Fox hanked Grewal and the detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance throughout the investigation.

Find out what's happening in Wyckofffor free with the latest updates from Patch.

More than $20,000 was seized as a result of the investigation.

Detectives were solicited for sex at the following locations:

Find out what's happening in Wyckofffor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Royal Massage in Wyckoff
  • Golden Palm Spa in Tenafly
  • Jade Spa, Aqua Blue Spa, and World Health Spa in Edgewater
  • Heaven Is A Spa in Little Ferry
  • Greenish Spa in South Hackensack
  • Aztec Spa and Aroma Spa in Fairview

In addition to Wu and Li, the following employees were charged with engaging in prostitution:

  • Ying J. Tang, 45
  • Meixiang Deng, 52
  • Chunmei Jin, 41
  • Mihwa Jang, 41
  • Jimei Zhou, 33
  • Jinshan Li, 49
  • Shunyu Piao, 49
  • Yougin Cho, 37
  • Kyung Rye Bae, 49
  • Chen Xu, 43

Eight of the women live in Flushing, N.Y.; Jang and Pao live in Little Ferry, Cho lives in Ellicott City, Md., and Bae lives in Queens, N.Y., the prosecutor said.

The women were issued summonses through the respective local municipal courts and released pending their first appearances, Grewal said.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office created the task force to investigate the alleged prostitution. Members from the following law enforcement agencies served on it: Bergen County, Sheriff’s Office, Wyckoff Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, River Edge Police Department, Edgewater Police Department, Little Ferry Police Department, South Hackensack Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Fairview Police Department, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement.

Fong Zhen Wu, 53, and Ge Li, 51/Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.