Married Couple Admits To Promoting Prostitution In Illicit Massage Parlors Across The Region

NEW ROCHELLE, NY —A married couple has admitted to conspiring to promote prostitution in massage parlors in New York and New Jersey, according to the DOJ.

One of the massage parlors was the New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle.

U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced that 38-year-old Zhejun Piao, and 38-year-old Miyeon Choi a/k/a "Maya," both of Palisades Park, New Jersey, each pleaded guilty on Tuesday, to an Information charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel, and use of the mail and any facility in aid of a racketeering enterprise.

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According to court documents, Choi admitted to being a leader or organizer of the conspiracy in which she, Piao, and other co-conspirators owned or operated the following nine massage parlors: New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle; Coco Spa in Paterson; Gold Spa in Passaic; 785 Spa in Passaic; 365 Spa in Fairview; Queen Spa in Edgewater; Hawaii Spa in Edgewater; Good Day Spa in East Brunswick; and Spa Wellness in Toms River.

Prosecutors say that each of the massage parlors operated in a similar way in which women workers provided sexual services to paying customers in exchange for a fee of $160 or $175. Several of the spas provided customers with loyalty or rewards cards where customers would receive a stamp for each visit and receive a free visit after collecting a certain number of stamps.

The spas were usually open from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, with many of the women living at the spas. According to ledgers for the businesses, some of the women performed sexual services to approximately 20 men a day.

Choi admitted to recruiting women to work at the spas, speaking with customers on the phone to book appointments, controlling the money generated by the spas, and advertising the sexual services offered at the spas online. She also admitted to directing co-conspirators to deliver groceries and condoms to spas, communicate with customers, and record appointments.

Piao admitted to delivering supplies to the spas, including groceries, mouthwash, cleaning supplies, medications, and condoms, in addition to picking up ledgers, receipts, and cash proceeds from the spas.

Choi and Piao admitted to storing tens of thousands of condoms in their home, along with about $1.2 million in cash.

As part of their guilty pleas, Choi and Piao agreed to forfeit the cash, several designer handbags, luxury watches, and jewelry.

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of the mail and any facility in aid of a racketeering enterprise carries up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for October 6.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; the U.S. State Department, Diplomatic Security Service; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Jeanne Hengemuhle. He also thanked HSI New York, Hudson Valley Office; Customs and Border Protection; the Passaic County Prosecutors Office; Passaic County Sheriff; Bergen County Prosecutor's Office; Bergen County Sheriff; Edgewater Police Department; Fairview Police Department; Paterson Police Department; East Brunswick Police Department; New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; South Toms River Police Department; Edison Police Department; South Toms River Police Department; Morris County Prosecutor's Office; Ocean County Prosecutor's Office; New Rochelle Police Department; Westchester District Attorney's Office; Federal Air Marshals; New York State Police; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Westwood Police Department; and the Ridgefield Park Police Department; and the Palisades Park Police Department.