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The Tampa Bay Times in Florida reported the story of Tingbo Zhang, an undocumented Chinese customer who has been in jail for nearly four years because she could not afford bail. Four years ago, Florida investigated 12 massage parlors across counties. Zhang, who could hardly speak English, was one of the six people arrested in one of the massage parlors. She faces charges such as extortion and has appeared in court 23 times so far. She is the only defendant in the case who is still in jail and has not been able to wait for trial.
The report stated that Zhang Tingbo’s case gives people a glimpse into the struggles faced by those who lack funds, resources or language skills in the complex American legal system.
According to court records, Zhang Tingbo is a Chinese citizen. Prosecutors said she was instructed by the leader of a prostitution ring and worked briefly in a massage parlor. She has been in prison for more than the three and a half years recommended by the state sentencing guidelines. If found guilty, she is likely to be deported to China.
In 2023, Zhang Tingbo wrote to the court, “I can hardly speak English, and it’s even harder to understand English. I am very confused about what is happening now.”
Four years ago, Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, announced that the authorities had seized 12 massage parlors in Florida that were linked to James Smith and Nan Smith, the targets of the Department of Homeland Security’s human smuggling case. These massage parlors were fake massages and real prostitution. Chronister said: “We believe that most of these women were sold.”
The Tampa Bay Times reported that the state government said that Zhang Tingbo had worked at Dream Massage. After her arrest, she asked Alex Yu, a Chinese-speaking lawyer, to help, but she was unable to pay the $175,000 bail. In March last year, she asked to change lawyers, and criminal defense lawyer Douglas Prior took over her case last summer.
In June, Assistant State Attorney Alexa Cline and Pryor told the judge that law enforcement was trying to negotiate with the federal immigration authorities to allow Zhang Tingbo to obtain a green card. They also discussed the possibility that Zhang Tingbo agreed to testify against her co-defendants in court, which might help her obtain immigration status. Cline said that based on Zhang Tingbo’s testimony, “there is a high possibility that she was sexually assaulted.”
Despite the progress in the case, Zhang Tingbo is still incarcerated; Pryor told the judge, “She is upset because we can’t give her a definite answer.” Zhang Tingbo’s next hearing is scheduled for September.
