Leaders of prostitution ring at Asian massage parlors busted on money laundering, racketeering charges, cops say

The leaders of a prostitution ring run out of 13 Asian massage parlors in Bradenton, Sarasota, Naples, Cape Coral and Tallahassee have been arrested and are now facing money laundering and racketeering charges, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Agents with FDLE launched an investigation into suspected prostitution at the Asian massage parlors at the urging of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota Police Department, they announced at a press conference Friday afternoon.

“Operation Spa” revealed that women at the parlors were offering to commit sexual acts for additional money after they finished giving clients a massage. The massage parlors are owned by Robert Neil Jones, 67, of Naples, and co-owners or managers ran each of the locations involved, according to FDLE.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning the six ring leaders were arrested:

▪  Jones was arrested Friday in Kauai, Hawaii, and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, money laundering, conduct of or participation in an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and use or investment of proceeds from pattern of racketeering activity.

▪  Xuan Lang, 47, of Naples, was arrested Wednesday in Naples and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, money laundering, conduct of or participation in an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and use or investment of proceeds from pattern of racketeering activity.

▪  Jun Lang, 40, of Naples, was arrested Wednesday in Lee County and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, money laundering, conduct of or participation in an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and use or investment of proceeds from pattern of racketeering activity.

▪  Jing Zhang, 32, of Naples, was arrested Wednesday in Naples and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering.

▪  Lianying Ma, 61, of Naples, was arrested Wednesday in Tallahassee and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering.

▪  Ziyi Lang, 44, of Naples, was arrested Wednesday in Naples and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering.

Collier, Manatee, Sarasota and Leon County sheriff’s offices, Sarasota and Cape Coral police departments, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Health assisted FDLE in the investigation.

“We’re thankful to our partners at the FDLE and other area law enforcement agencies for partnering with us to stop these types of massage parlors from being in our communities,” Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino said during a press conference. “The human trafficking that is happening as a result of these establishments is modern day slavery.”

Ten more people were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering as a result of the investigation:

▪  Lan Yuan Ju of Cape Coral

▪  Xu Xue Yu of Sarasota

▪  Li Hung Xiu of Sarasota

▪  Aihua Zheng of Bradenton

▪  Chunyun Li of Sarasota

▪  Jian Zhang of Naples

▪  Caitang Huang of Naples

▪  Xiajuan Yu of Naples

▪  Tongying Yu of Naples

▪  Ma Xiaoyan of Naples

“This is just the beginning. We’re going to continue to partner with the FDLE and local law enforcement agencies to make sure these types of businesses are closed and the men and women who are being abused get the help that they need,” DiPino said.

Anyone with information about this case can call FDLE’s Ft. Myers Regional Operations Center at 239-278-7170.

This story was originally published June 9, 2017 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Leaders of prostitution ring at Asian massage parlors busted on money laundering, racketeering charges, cops say."