Sprawling Human Trafficking Operation Thwarted in Framingham, Elsewhere

BOSTON, MA – Two sprawling human trafficking operations have been shut down thanks to law enforcement in both Massachusetts and New York, according to Attorney General Maura Healey’s office.

The tendrils of what was partially a family-run criminal operation stretched from New York to Massachusetts communities including Northampton, Hadley, Framingham, East Longmeadow and Agawam.

There, Healey's office said, victims were taken from New York and trafficked for commercial sex in so-called "massage parlors." Through businesses described as "profitable and organized criminal enterprises," two suspects allegedly offered sexual activities between women and buyers in exchange for a fee, her office said.

In Framingham, a parlor called Massage Body Work was allegedly used as a front for the criminal operations.

“Human trafficking is happening right here in our own communities across the state,” Healey said in a news release on the operation. “It is an egregious crime that victimizes vulnerable people, while traffickers profit. This is about the exploitation of human beings and my office will continue to prosecute these cases to hold traffickers and sex buyers accountable. We thank all of our law enforcement partners who assisted us in this major operation.”

As a result of the AG's investigation, four have been arrested and ten victims identified. The AG's Victim Services division is working to assist the victims.

Law enforcement authorities, including local, state and federal agencies from both Massachusetts and New York orchestrated the takedown Tuesday after a months-long joint investigation by the AG's office, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, and the Northampton Police Department, with the assistance of various other local and federal law enforcement agencies, including agencies in New York.

According to the AG's office:

Feng Ling Liu, age 50, her husband Jian Song, age 48, both of Sunderland, and her daughter, Ting Ting Yin, age 26, of New Hyde Park, N.Y., were all arrested today in connection with trafficking women between New Hyde Park, N.Y. and locations in Hadley, East Longmeadow, and Framingham.

Shuzi Li, age 52, of West Springfield, was arrested in connection with trafficking women between Flushing in Queens, N.Y. and her businesses in Northampton and Agawam.

Authorities allege that Liu, with help from Song, allegedly operated Hadley Massage Therapy in Hadley, Feng Health Center in East Longmeadow and Massage Body Work in Framingham. She allegedly portrayed these businesses as massage parlors while they were in fact fronts for an extensive human trafficking operation.

Authorities allege that Yin helped to coordinate the transport of women to Massachusetts from New Hyde Park, N.Y.

According to investigators, Liu, with help from Song, managed the financial and day-to-day aspects of the operations including recruiting women, advertising sexual services online, setting up appointments for sexual encounters, and transporting women. Liu and Song allegedly received the majority of the profits from these sexual encounters. Liu arranged for most of the women to stay in the same buildings where they were trafficked.

Liu and Song were arrested in Sunderland by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, with assistance from the Sunderland Police Department, after search warrants were executed at the Massachusetts business locations and their residence in Sunderland.

They are scheduled to be arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown tomorrow in the morning session beginning at 9 a.m. on the charges of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Deriving Support from Prostitution, Money Laundering and Conspiracy.

Yin was arrested in New Hyde Park by authorities from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office on the charges of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Deriving Support from Prostitution, Money Laundering and Conspiracy. Massachusetts authorities executed search warrants at a residential unit and two other massage parlors in New Hyde Park, N.Y. that are allegedly involved in the operation.

A rendition hearing for Yin will be scheduled at later date.

During the course of the investigation, authorities also developed evidence that Li was running a separate but similar operation between Flushing, Queens and her businesses, Pine Spa NoHo in Northampton and Agawam Massage Therapy in Agawam.

Like Liu, Li allegedly recruited women, advertised sexual services online, set up appointments for sexual encounters, and arranged for transportation for the women. The women allegedly stayed in the same rooms where Li arranged for them to provide sexual services to buyers for a fee. Authorities allege that Li typically received the majority of the profits from these sexual encounters.

Li was arrested in West Springfield by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, with assistance from West Springfield Police Department, after search warrants were executed at her businesses and her residence in West Springfield.

Li is scheduled to be arraigned in Northampton District Court tomorrow in the morning session beginning at 9 a.m. on the charges of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Deriving Support from Prostitution, and Money Laundering.

These investigations remain ongoing. These charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Image via Shutterstock