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Wellesley, Revere massage parlor owners indicted for human trafficking, prostitution

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Two massage parlor owners, one in Wellesley and another in Revere, have been indicted in connection with human trafficking and prostitution, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Thursday.

Joseph Girouard, 55, of Revere, Zhen Lai, 37, of Quincy, and Wenjie Dong, 49, of Malden, were indicted on charges of sex trafficking and keeping a house of prostitution.

Lai, Girouard, and Dong were arrested in October by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG's Office and agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from local police departments.

The indictments are the result of an extensive investigation into allegations of human trafficking and prostitution at Sun Spa, also known as Sun Studio, in Wellesley and Bodywork in Revere. Authorities allege that Lai, Girouard, and Dong operated the massage parlors.

During the course of the investigation, authorities developed evidence indicating that these massage parlors were allegedly offering sexual activity between masseuses employed by Lai, Girouard, and Dong and their clients in exchange for cash that was characterized as "tips." The majority of the profit from these sexual services went to Lai, Girouard, and Dong.

Authorities further allege that some of the masseuses employed by Lai, Girouard and Dong came to Boston from New York to work at the massage parlors for a period of time. Girouard allegedly facilitated transportation for several of these masseuses to and from the parlors. Investigation also revealed that the two parlors were advertised in newspapers and on websites known to advertise prostitution.

Girouard, Lai, and Dong were arrested on October 18 and arraigned the next day. Girouard and Dong were arraigned in Chelsea District Court and Lai was arraigned in Dedham District Court. All three entered pleas of not guilty and were released on bail. They were indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury Thursday and will be arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court at a later date.
            

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