Prostitution Ring Disguised As Massage Parlor In Lutz: Sheriff

Brandon FL

29 October, 2021

12:28 PM

Description

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — About a year—long investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Pinellas County police agencies uncovered an alleged prostitution ring in Lutz that had been operated out of a massage parlor, Sheriff Chad Chronister said. Owners James Robert Smith and his wife, Nan Chen Smith, are accused of running an illegal prostitution ring at Simply Massage. Twelve massage parlors were linked to the couple in recent years, authorities said. During the investigation, detectives found evidence that the couple and their business associates laundered more than $1 million into their bank accounts. More than $750,000 between cash and vehicles was discovered by deputies, investigators said. Search warrants were issued on the Smiths' home, a storage unit and the 12 massage parlors by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Police Department and Largo Police Department Oct. 27, Chronister said. "If not stopped by Operation Shared Hope, this criminal organization had immediate plans to expand with the addition of two more parlors in Tampa Bay," Chronister said. "We know most of these women are being trafficked. We can only hope and pray that they will come forward so we can get them the help and resources to rescue them from this horrific cycle." Seven people were arrested, including the Smiths, on multiple charges that included money laundering and operating a place for prostitution. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the suspects listed below face the following charges: James Robert Smith DOB: 11/25/1969Charges:-Money Structuring over $300 but less than $20,000 -Money Structuring over $20,000 but less than $100.000 -Money Structuring over $100,000 (X2)-Money Laundering over $100,000 (X4)Conspiracy to commit Money Laundering Unlawful use of Two Way Communications DeviceDeriving Support from Proceeds of Prostitution Operating a Place for Lewdness, Assignation or Prostitution Rico Violation Rico Conspiracy Nan Chen SmithDOB:05/21/1980Charges:-Unlawful use of Two Way Communications Device -Deriving Support from Proceeds of Prostitution -Operating a Place for Lewdness, Assignation or Prostitution -Rico Violation -Rico Conspiracy IaoKuan BatistaDOB: 01/05/1969Charges: Money structuring over $20,000 but less than $100,000Money laundering over $100,000Money laundering over $20,000 but less than $100,000Deriving support from proceeds of prostitutionOperating a place for prostitutionRico violationRico conspiracy Min Soon Rockwood DOB: 03/21/1962 Charges: Deriving support from proceeds of prostitution Operating a place for prostitution Rico violation Rico conspiracy Wei Cheng DOB:12/21/1977 Charges: Money laundering over $300 but less than $20,000Rico conspiracy Lin Wang DOB:11/30/1984 Charges: Money laundering over $300 but less than $20,000 (X2)Unlawful use of two way communications device Rico conspiracy Tingbo Zhang DOB: 01/08/1972 Charges: Money laundering over $300 but less than $20,000 Rico conspiracy Mugshots and more information is on the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office page.