NEW ROCHELLE, NY (August 11, 2024) — It took a while but the prostitution ring operating out of the K Building in downtown New Rochelle, across from the U.S. Post Office has been shut down for now following an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations Newark, the U.S. State Department, Diplomatic Security Service, and the New Jersey State Police, and local law enforcement including the New Rochelle Police Department and Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
On October 3, 2022, a reader sent an email asking why the New Rochelle Police Department allows brothels to operate in New Rochelle.
“I’ve attached some of the ads that are running yesterday and today,” this reader wrote. “Note the addresses on the ad. They don’t even hide and there’s no way the police don’t know.”
The reader sent me sample ads from bedpage.com, a successor to the notorious backpage.com, a sort of Craigslist for sexual services. Based on my past reporting, I know NRPD monitors social media and websites like this on a regular basis.
I replied the same day.
“I expect they do know. And maybe they have some sting operation underway. That said, I will go by these locations and see what I can see, then call the phone number and see what happens. Thanks for the tip.”
It took a bit, but law enforcement caught up with the culprits.
Four individuals have been charged with operating a series of illicit massage parlors in New Jersey and New York, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Thursday.
Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national, Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national, Shangxian Cui, 36, Chinese national, and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise. All four defendants were arrested on Aug. 8, 2024 and made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court. They were all released.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From at least May 2017, the defendants owned, operated, and derived money from 9 illicit massage parlors or spas, 8 in New Jersey and 1 in New York that, as the defendants knew, had been offering sexual services in exchange for money. The New York spa includes New Soothing Day Spa located at 271 North Avenue in New Rochelle.
271 North Avenue, known as the K building, is managed by Kaufman Realty Corporation. Edward J. Hart, Chief Executive Officer of the Kaufman Organization and a Managing Partner in many of its key properties, was a member of the Downtown Business Improvement District Board.
Each of the spas allegedly advertised sexual services on various online platforms by posting images of the female sex workers and describing the sexual services offered. Law enforcement obtained evidence demonstrating each of the defendants’ personal knowledge of, and involvement in, the illegal operation. For example, emails obtained by law enforcement show that Choi received what appear to be draft advertisements for the spas, and other emails and records show Choi and Piao transferred cryptocurrency to an online advertisement company. Law enforcement also observed Cui transport supplies, including mouthwash and paper towels, to the spas, make suspected cash pickups, and deposit over $50,000 of cash with Jin to a bank account.
The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; the U.S. State Department, Diplomatic Security Service; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation. 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; and the Palisades Park Police Department.
