For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Vice and Intelligence Unit have arrested and charged 34-year-old Chang Liu and 50-year-old Yinlian Wu with prostitution-related charges. Detectives are urging additional victims who were employed at these massage parlors to come forward.
The investigation determined that C. Liu owned massage parlors in Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County and the City of Laurel, Maryland, which offered illicit sex acts in exchange for U.S. currency.
As a result, detectives initiated a 6-month joint investigation involving the Anne Arundel County and the City of Laurel Police Departments.
In October of 2023, the Human Trafficking detectives became aware of possible prostitution and sex trafficking occurring at the Elegant Spa in the 10500 block of Metropolitan Avenue in Kensington, Maryland.
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During the investigation, detectives observed dozens of predominately male customers entering and exiting Elegant Spa daily. Detectives obtained multiple admissions of illicit sexual activity in exchange for U.S. currency that occurred inside the business. Detectives were also informed that a spa employee attempted to bribe an inspector from Health and Human Services (HHS) during an inspection of the business to prevent the inspector from shutting down the business.
On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at Elegant Spa. Chang Liu, of Columbia, Maryland, was located inside the spa and placed under arrest on the strength of an arrest warrant, charging her with multiple counts of sex trafficking and prostitution. Yinlian Wu, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was also arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant, charging her with attempted bribery of an HHS inspector and multiple counts of prostitution.
Detectives also learned that C. Liu, Y. Wu , and two other females were living inside the spa at various times throughout the investigation.
Detectives seized numerous items of evidentiary value , a large amount of U.S. currency and one vehicle.
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Liu and Wu were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where they were subsequently released after posting bond.
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Detectives believe there may be additional victims whom C. Liu employed. Detectives ask any additional victims to contact the Vice and Intelligence Unit at 240-773-5958.
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Release ID: 24-159
Media Contact:
Categories: arrest , sexual-offense
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail_Pol.aspx?Item_ID=45092