Prostitution investigation nets 2 arrests

December 8, 2006
By Eva McKendrick staff writer
Two people were arrested in connection with a prostitution ring in Lisle, Westmont and Woodridge on Wednesday.

Haixia Ni, 34, of 409 W. Naperville Road in Westmont, was arrested and charged with pandering. Bao Lin Shi, 52, from the same address, was arrested and charged with keeping a place of prostitution.

The prostitution ring operated under the guise of a legitimate massage business, authorities said.

Based on the felony charge of pandering against Ni, Lisle police executed two asset seizure warrants at Chicago banks where she had accounts. The warrants resulted in the seizure of approximately $155,000.

Lisle police Sgt. Ron Wilke said Ni and Shi had advertisements in various Chicago magazines saying "Asian girl massages" alongside pictures of scantily-clad women.

The pair had three apartments set up for prostitution - two in Lisle and one in Woodridge. Ni and Shi operated from their home, police said.

"Ni and Shi were the ringleaders; they would receive the calls, set it up and tell them which apartment to go to," Wilke said.

After a complaint was made to Lisle police, detectives investigated the Lisle apartments, at 4500 Beaux Monde Drive and 4315 Azalea Drive. The woman who made the complaint told police she saw a large number of men going into an apartment after being greeted by an Asian woman and then leaving about 45 minutes later.

Police said they launched a 10-month investigation with the DuPage County state's attorney's office and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

Both Ni and Shi immigrated to the United States from China, police said. Wilke said Shi's visa expired five years ago and that he most likely will be deported. Wilke said Ni is in the United States pending asylum.

Wilke also said Ni likely would be deported after a felony conviction.

The alleged prostitutes who worked for Shi and Ni were not arrested because Lisle investigators could not get appointments at the apartments, Wilke said.

Ni is being held at DuPage County jail; she had not posted bail as of Thursday night. Shi was released Thursday afternoon after posting bail.

Contact Eva McKendrick at emckendrick@scn1.com or 630-416-5103.


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