Thread: 31 Women Detained In Alleged Prostitution Sting

http://www.nbc11.com/news/5192484/detail.html

31 Women Detained In Alleged Prostitution Sting
5 Individuals Arrested

POSTED: 4:11 pm PDT October 27, 2005
UPDATED: 5:53 pm PDT October 27, 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- State and federal agents say they've broken up an elaborate prostitution ring in the Bay Area.

As NBC11 News first reported to Wednesday, agents raided a string of homes that were believed to be serving as brothels.

The investigation began a year ago through tips from neighbors who were suspicious and filed complaints to their local police department of what was going on in their community, U.S. Attorney General of San Francisco Kevin Ryan said at a news conference Thursday.

Homes were allegedly being used as 10-day brothels where women were being shifted around from home to home.

After Wednesday's sting operation, five individuals were arrested and 31 women were detained at 10 different sites.

Ryan said the case is an ongoing investigation, but alleged that the five individuals were involved in alien harboring -- which means they conspired to conceal, harbor and shield illegal aliens for the purpose of financial gain.

Each location was operating as unlicensed massage parlors.

Over 200 local and state law enforcement officers were involved in the sting operation.

Of the women detained, 21 women are believed to be from Taiwan, four from Korea and three from China.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement is interviewing the suspected prostitutes to see if they willingly participated in the operation or forced into it.

Also, $170,000 in cash was seized in the operation and an additional $200,000 in bank accounts has been seized as well, according to Ryan.

Authorities made it clear that they will deport those who came to the United States with the intention of selling their bodies, NBC11's Damian Trujillo reported.

Just turning the tricks Americans won't turn