Elderly man charged in tax fraud case linked to local massage parlors, human trafficking - 95.3 MNC

[Jon Zimney]

An 82-year-old man has been charged in connection with a wide-ranging investigation involving alleged human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and tax fraud at multiple massage parlors in St. Joseph County.

James Belkiewitz was formally charged Friday by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office with Felony Failure to Remit Taxes Held in Trust, a charge typically applied to businesses that fail to turn over collected sales tax to the state. A warrant was issued for Belkiewitz’s arrest, and he was taken into custody early Monday morning by the St. Joseph County Warrants Unit.

The charge stems from a 2022 investigation into massage parlors suspected of operating as fronts for illicit activity. Authorities say the businesses tied to Belkiewitz were located in the 50800 block of State Road 933 N. in South Bend, the 12600 block of State Road 23 in Granger, and the 2600 block of South Michigan Street in South Bend.

“Thanks to anonymous tips we received from our community, this investigation was able to get underway,” said Sheriff Bill Redman. “This is a powerful reminder of the impact we can all have when we speak up. A special thank you to those who showed the courage to come forward.”