Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities looking at suspects arrested in Fox Valley massage parlor prostitution case
At least 2 of 6 massage parlor suspects in the U.S. illegally
By Dan Wilson
December 18, 2009


APPLETON — Local law enforcement officials are wrapping up their investigation into a massage parlor prostitution ring, but federal immigration authorities have not.

"We have placed detainers on two of the six people arrested, which means we have developed probable cause that these two are in the country illegally," said Tim Counts, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.

All six people charged remained in the Outagamie County Jail on cash bonds as of Thursday afternoon.

Three of the six are charged with felony counts of keeping a house of prostitution and pandering while the other three, thought by police to be employees, are charged with misdemeanor prostitution.

The criminal complaint suggests the three massage parlors in Buchanan, Ashwaubenon and Appleton were part of a larger network that depends on forcing women who have been brought into the country illegally to work off their debts.

Capt. Michael Jobe of the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department said the investigation is limited to the prostitution activities.

"If someone or someone provides evidence that shows that someone was being held against their will, we would get that to the proper authorities at the federal level but they are already involved," he said.

Counts said ICE agents have been part of the investigation, but so far it remains an immigration case.

"The investigation is ongoing and because it is I can't comment or speculate on what may arise in the future," Counts said.

The two people held on immigration detainers are Guing Xu, 40, and Dong Mei Yuan, 46, of Appleton.

"When other law enforcement agencies are finished they will be turned over to us for deportation proceedings," Counts said.

Jobe said police were tipped off by people from the area who were suspicious of the business being conducted at the massage parlors. The criminal complaint lists three complainants identified only as confidential informants who were solicited for sexual acts when they booked what they thought was a massage.

"One of the points that should be made is this community isn't going to tolerate that kind of activity and it doesn't take long for someone to contact us," he said.

The six charged are scheduled for further court proceedings Tuesday.
Dan Wilson: dwilson@postcrescent.com


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