A spa operated by a Chinese-American from Queens, New York, was reportedly operating as a prostitution parlor. Following a tip-off from a local resident, Pennsylvania State Police and Lancaster County law enforcement officers jointly arrested a Chinese woman and filed charges on Tuesday (the 29th).
According to local police, ABC Rose Spa, located at 107 W. Main St. in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, received two reports in June of possible prostitution and human trafficking at the spa, prompting an investigation.
Over the past month, police conducted extensive surveillance of the spa and discovered it was operating as a prostitution den.
On Tuesday, Ephrata police, with assistance from the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, and other law enforcement agencies, executed a search warrant at ABC Rose Spa and arrested a suspect.
Police said Qing Yin, a 35-year-old Chinese-American from Flushing, New York, was arrested for prostitution and related offenses. It is reported that an undercover officer entered the spa and paid 60 yuan for a massage, but Yin Qing claimed to be willing to have sex for 150 yuan.
Police documents also show that police determined that all female employees employed by ABC Rose Spa were Chinese women from China and had no local addresses or connections.
Yin Qing has been released on bail and will face charges in District Court Judge Landis’ office and will be scheduled for a court appearance.
In addition, police stated that an investigation into the involvement of others in the spa in related illegal activities is ongoing and that they are evaluating whether the spa and its building violate local regulations.
