Thread: CA: 6 Accused In O.C., Riverside Pimping Conspiracy

Mar 22, 2007 4:59 pm US/Pacific

6 Accused In O.C., Riverside Pimping Conspiracy
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(CBS) SANTA ANA, Calif. Authorities say five people have been arrested for allegedly running a Southern California prostitution ring that offered sex with immigrant Chinese women.

Four men and one woman -- all but one Chinese -- are charged with felonies relating to pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping. A sixth person, a woman, is charged with keeping a house of ill fame, a misdemeanor.

Officials say the arrests were made last week after a three-year investigation in Orange and Riverside counties. Investigators raided four brothels, seized $44,000 in cash and froze about $700,000 in bank accounts belonging to the suspects.

Authorities said virtually no legitimate business was conducted at the six locations in Anaheim, and one each in Tustin, Dana Point, Orange and Rancho Mirage in Riverside County.

Ads placed in local newspapers to attract customers offered "Beautiful Girls," and "Young Chinese Ladies."

The acupuncture license of one of the defendants, Guo Hua Chen, 56, of Monterey Park, was used to give an appearance of legitimacy to the businesses, although no medical or acupuncture tools were found at any of the supposed clinics, according to authorities who announced the breakup of the alleged ring at a news conference in Santa Ana.

Held without bail at the Orange County Jail were Jian Shi, 49, of Montebello, and Chen and Hong Jun Bai, 42, of Rowland Heights. They are charged with felony pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping, and face up to six years in prison if convicted. Immigration holds have been placed against them.

John Couch, 46, of San Clemente, is charged with conspiring to commit pimping and being a felon in possession of a firearm and misdemeanor keeping a house of ill fame. He faces up to six years and eight months if convicted.

A prosecutor says authorities are investigating whether the ring involves prostitution in neighboring states or is linked to rings around the nation.

Yu Mei Cheng-Couch, 38, of San Clemente, Couch's wife, is charged with misdemeanor keeping a house of ill fame and felony pimping conspiracy, and faces up to six years in prison. The couple are being held on $35,000 bail and must prove to the court that any money used to post bail comes from a legitimate source, officials said.

The five are set for arraignment on April 6 in a Fullerton courtroom.

A sixth person, Xueyan Yu, 49, of Huntington Beach, is charged with keeping a house of ill fame and faces up to a year in county jail if convicted. Arraignment is scheduled at a later date.

The six were arrested last Friday when search warrants were served at four alleged brothels and four homes. More than $44,000 in cash was seized as well as bank accounts and safety deposit boxes.

An investigation began three years ago with a complaint from a business in Orange, according to Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

The businesses were allowed to continue operated during that time because authorities wanted to make sure they got the leaders.

Rackauckas said investigations are ongoing in Los Angeles County, where three of the defendants lived.

http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_081151104.html

I guess that since most of the other illegal ethnic groups (who were heavily promoting prostitution in decades past) have been able to assimilate by opening "nail shops", "bakeries", and "restaurants", our Chinese friends saw a great business opportunity!