3 more arrested at airport in Utah County massage parlor raids - Deseret News

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AMERICAN FORK — Three more people have been arrested in connection with a raid of a group of massage parlors in Utah County where police say prostitution and human trafficking occurred.

Jing Wang, 34, and Xiaoxia Liu, 60, both of Chicago, were booked into the Utah County Jail over the weekend for investigation of human trafficking, money laundering, engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, prostitution and tampering with a witness.

A third woman, who may be a victim of human trafficking by the group, was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge. But according to several police affidavits, investigators are mostly worried about the woman fleeing the state as she and the other two were picked up Saturday at the Salt Lake City International Airport attempting to leave Utah.

Their arrests follow a police raid of four massage parlors in Orem and American Fork on Thursday that resulted in six people being taken into custody. The woman, who police say was rescued during the operation, was given the number of the Asian Aid Society to help her.

But after the six were booked into jail, police listened to phone calls made from the jail by members of the group talking about the woman going to Chicago, the affidavits state. Detectives then learned the woman had contacted the Asian Aid Society and told them she wanted to leave Utah to go to Chicago.

“Detectives believe that the victim was contacted by members of the organization and was being forced back into trafficking,” according to the affidavits.

On Saturday, while monitoring the airport, police watched as the woman pulled up to the terminal along with Wang and Liu.

Wang and the woman were stopped inside the terminal carrying two suitcases. In addition to passports, iPhones and clothing, inside the suitcases detectives found “incriminating documents belonging to the victim as well as approximately $40,000 in jewelry and other merchandise,” police wrote.

Investigators say they believe the jewelry was from the proceeds made from the illegal massage parlors and that they “were using the victim to send money to their associates in Chicago,” according to the affidavits.

Liu was driving the vehicle that dropped the woman off at the airport.

Police said they learned that one of those arrested on Thursday had Liu’s phone number saved and listed under “laoban” which means “boss.”

“I believe that based on her title of boss and coordination of cover-up efforts and the reference by other suspects of an unknown boss, that she has been coordinating the human trafficking and prostitution ring that exists in Utah County,” the arresting officer wrote in the affidavit after booking Liu into jail.

Liu has previously been arrested in Illinois for investigation info prostitution, the affidavit states.

Police were still trying to determine exactly what the alleged victim’s role was with the organization. But investigators fear she will attempt to flee the state again if released from jail and have requested she either be held without bail or be forced to wear a GPS ankle monitor if released.