Prostitution ring leader sentenced

February 06. 2014 12:25PM


By Edward Lewis - elewis@civitasmedia.com - 570-970-7196





SCRANTON — A Stroudsburg man who federal prosecutors identified as a prostitution ring leader of a network of message parlors including one in Plains Township was sentenced today.

Lih Kang Shen, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley to time served of 32 months and 28 days on a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Shen was one of five people indicted by a federal grand jury in may 2011 for their roles in a multi-state prostitution ring at massage parlors, including Ichiban on North River Road in Plains Township, and Oriental Body Works on Birney Avenue, Moosic, from October 2007 through May 2011.


Federal prosecutors said Shen and others transferred women, including at least 12 who were undocumented aliens from the Far East, to five massage parlors and spas in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.


Women from China, Korea and Taiwan were forced to perform sex acts in exchange for cash, according to the indictment.

Shen was ordered to surrender property on Fox Chase Road in Stroudsburg, more than $40,000, a Rolex watch and a 2011 BMW 550i to authorities.




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