Charging Documents Released for Overlea Prostitution Raid

Parkville Patch obtained the charging documents and a press release related to the May 10 raid of Elite Spa in Overlea, which federal officials have accussed of operating as a front for a brothel.

The documents allege that the following individuals conspired to operate a multi-state prostitution ring:

• Lih Kang Shen, a.k.a “Michael Shen,” 46, of Stroudsburg, PA;
• John Vincent Ferraro, 45, of Bartonsville, PA;
• Young Ja Youn a.k.a “Micky,” 45, of Stroudsburg, PA;
• Yu Cheng Lee a.k.a “Ricky, 35, of Tannersville, PA;
• and Cin Hsia Chen a.k.a “Judy,” 56, of Briarwood, NY.

"The indictment alleges that the five defendants conspired to induce women, some of whom were undocumented aliens, to travel in interstate and foreign commerce for the purpose of prostitution, controlled their travel, and laundered the proceeds of the business," according to a press release from the office of Pensylvania Middle District U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith.

The operation allegedly included Elite Spa in Overlea along with four locations in Pennsylvania.

According to the indictment, the conspirators "arranged the transportation of women, some illegal immigrants, from primarily China, Korea, Taiwan and other Asian countries to the United States" where they would engage in commercial sex acts.

The parlors generally charged a $50 or $60 door fee, which was collected and kept by the conspirators, according to the charging documents. Clients would then pay each masseuse "tips" for sexual activity, the documents state.

In order to remain "willfully ignorant" of the activities taking place within their business, the conspirators, who allegedly established the location as a brothel, never paid the female employees. Therefore, the "tips" earned through prostitution represented their sole source of income, according to the charging documents.

The indictment states that authorities seized cash and luxury items including: $56,998 in cash from various massage parlors and the conspirators' homes; more than $260,000 from bank accounts and safe-deposit boxes; a 2011 550i BMW; two high-definition Sony Bravia 3D televisions; a Rolex watch; and the proceeds of a legal settlement dealing with a Porsche automobile.

According to a press relase, the total value of the property is approximately $700,000.

You can read the charging documents in full in the attached pdf.