3 Round Rock Residents Charged With Promoting Prostitution

ROUND ROCK, TX — A months-long investigation culminated in the arrest of 13 people for alleged prostitution and human trafficking, including three Round Rock residents accused of promoting prostitution, officials said.

The nexus of the operation was the massage parlor Shanghai Spa, 1915 S. Austin Ave., in Georgetown. According to a press advisory issued by the office of the Texas Attorney General, the investigation began after the Georgetown Police Department and Attorney General Paxton’s office received a complaint about illegal activity at the massage parlor in Georgetown.

A broadened investigation turned up prostitution and organized criminal activity at a number of massage parlors and spas throughout the state, the AG's office said. Among those arrested as a result were three Round Rock residents: Yingbo Xu, 45; Janhong Li, 46; and Xiaolin Yang, 46. All three were charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The Round Rock trio was arrested by the Georgetown Police Department, officials said. The three are accused of owning, investing in, financing, supervising or managing a prostitution enterprise that used at least two prostitutes, officials said.

Williamson County Jail records indicate Xu, Li and Yang were all being held at the Williamson County Jail as of Tuesday afternoon, with bail set at $25,000 apiece.

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office assisted the Georgetown and Round Rock police departments in arresting 0thers in addition to the Round Rock three. Guiqui Li, Lizhen Song, Yuexia Sun, and Zhihua Cui were all arrested on prostitution charges, the AG's office said.

The prostitution ring was found to encompass a wide swath, ensnaring suspects in Round Rock, Bryan, Houston, Killeen, Harker Heights and Temple, officials said. The Bell County Organized Crime Unit helped execute seven search warrants at massage parlors in Killeen, Harker Heights and Temple, officials said.

The multi-agency law enforcement operation was led by the Georgetown and Round Rock police departments and included participation by the Cedar Park Police Department, Houston Police’s Vice Unit and Human Trafficking Task Force, Killeen Police Department, Harker Heights Police Department, Temple Police Department, Bryan Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. State Department, the AG's office said.

>>> Image via Shutterstock