Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Cedar Grove Police Chief Richard Vanderstreet have announced that, earlier today, authorities raided four massage parlors operating in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Five women, all of whom were working in the establishments, were arrested during the raids and charged with prostitution offenses.
The investigation began earlier this spring when both the Cedar Grove Police Department and the Prosecutor's office received complaints about possible prostitution activity occurring at the establishments. As the investigation progressed, detectives from the Bergen, Hudson and Passaic County Prosecutor's Offices assisted detectives from Cedar Grove and Essex County.
Earlier this afternoon, detectives from the aforementioned agencies conducted raids at the following locations:
1. Zen Massage and Therapy, 908-B1 Pompton Avenue;
2. Spa Oasis, 412 Pompton Avenue;
3. Angel Spa, 569B Pompton Avenue;
4. Michelle Nails & Spa, 1064 Pompton Avenue.
Arrested at Zen Massage and Therapy was Yu Lanni, age 42,. At Spa Oasis, detectives arrested Neilan Xu, age 49. Xianyu Jin, age 40, was arrested at Angel Spa. At Michelle Spa, detectives arrested Jaeryeong Kimnam, age 45, and Fenyu Piao, age 41. Those arrested are all from Queens, NY.
All five women were charged with Engaging in Prostitution, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly, of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit. All five were released on their own recognizance after being processed on the charges according to Fennelly, who added that the women received summonses to appear in Cedar Grove municipal court in the near future.
Acting Prosecutor Murray praised the work of the detectives from Cedar Grove, and the Bergen, Hudson and Passaic county agencies, as well as the detectives and assistant prosecutors from her office, who worked on the investigation. Acting Prosecutor Murray added that the assistance provided from the other agencies was instrumental in the success of this operation.
The matter is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Homicide and Major Crimes Task Force and the Bloomfield Police Department.
The investigation is continuing at this time, according to Fennelly.
THE CHARGES AGAINST THE ABOVE NAMED INDIVIDUALS ARE MERELY ALLEGATIONS. THE DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT AT THIS TIME.
