5 arrested in prostitution probe at massage parlors

For the past six months a number of local Asian massage parlors have been under investigation by Thousand Oaks police, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a result, five arrests were made on July 19 after four businesses in Thousand Oaks and a residence in Camarillo were searched, according to police.

Arrested were Gui Yun Yang, owner of Oriental Health Center at 1459 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., and an employee, Wei Wei Tao.

Yang is being held at the main Ventura jail on suspicion of prostitution. Tao was cited for failure to obtain a license and released on a misdemeanor violation.

Two other arrests were made at the HWA Rong Chinese Medical Clinic, 951 S. Westlake Blvd. in Thousand Oaks.

Liping Zheng and Xiaojun Ma were also cited for lacking licenses and released on misdemeanor violations.

At New Life Acupuncture, 253 Lombard St. in Thousand Oaks, employee Xiu Hua Cui was arrested for failing to obtain a license and was later released.

The massage parlors are under investigation as fronts for prostitution, catering to an adult male clientele. The owners and massage technicians at these establishments are commonly female Chinese nationals who are legally residing in the United States, according to the police report.

Through undercover operations and surveillance, police said they determined that male customers entered these Asian massage parlors with the explicit intention of paying for and receiving sexual services.

The arrests last week were not the first in this attempt to stem such activity. On June 14 two people were arrested and another taken into custody after three businesses and three residences were searched by police. Yan Jun Ha, owner of the Asian Wellness Center at 166 N. Moorpark Road, was arrested on suspicion of pandering. Fenghui An, a massage technician working at the business was arrested, accused of obstructing and interfering with an investigation.

In addition, Shyuing Qi, owner of the Chinese Acupuncture Center at 1337 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. and Reflexology Plus at 5565 Lindero Canyon Road, was arrested on suspicion of pandering. Ruiijuan Fan, a massage technician at the Lindero Canyon establishment, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for being in the country illegally.

Police plan to continue investigating and said they anticipate additional arrests. All massage-related applications submitted to the city will be reviewed by police for thorough background checks.