Toms River Spa Used For Prostitution, Prosecutor Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River couple has been charged with promoting prostitution and money-laundering following a yearlong investigation into activities at Spa 1800 on Lakewood Road, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Wayne Lefkowitz, 56, and Guihua Cui, 51, who are married, each have been charged with promoting prostitution and two counts each of money laundering, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. The charges were filed April 28 and 29, he said.

The investigation by the prosecutor's office's Economic Crime Squad and Special Victims Unit found that while the spa appeared to be operating as a legitimate business, people patronizing the spa were offered sexual favors in exchange for money, Billhimer said.

In addition, the investigation found Lefkowitz and Cui deposited proceeds from the spa into several different bank accounts to try to avoid transaction reporting requirements under New Jersey state law, the prosecutor said.

Search warrants were executed at Spa 1800 and at the couple's Toms River home on April 28, and court-authorized seizure orders the couple's bank accounts, Billhimer said. They were charged and released on summonses pending future court dates.

The investigation was conducted by the following units of the prosecutor's office — Special Investigations Unit, Economic Crime Squad, Special Victims Unit, Internal Affairs Unit, High Tech Crime Squad, Homeland Security/Intelligence Squad, and Narcotics Strike Force, — along with detectives and patrol officers from the Toms River Police Department, with assistance from the New Jersey State Police, Billhimer said.

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