After a two-year joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement agencies, four individuals tied to a human trafficking and money laundering scheme were taken into custody in Las Vegas, with arrests carried out on Wednesday and again yesterday. The inquiry, initiated by LVMPD detectives and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), pierced through the veil of deceit surrounding massage parlors that served as fronts for illicit activities, including sex solicitation, as reported by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).
Authorities identified the suspects connected to the massage parlors, known as Midnight Rose Spa, Jones Station Karaoke and Bar, and Young Spa, where the illegal activities were taking place; according to the LVMPD, those apprehended include Hua Xiao, 35, Cheng Cheng Li, 41, Jianming Li, 53, all Chinese nationals, as well as Jisup Hwang, 27, a South Korean national, they were booked on charges ranging from Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Travel/Use of Facilities of Interstate Commerce for Racketeering Enterprise. Sheriff Kevin McMahill underscored the department’s dedication to cracking down on human trafficking, stating, “Human trafficking remains a priority for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).”
The arrest, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto, underscores that crimes driven by greed carry serious consequences and highlights the importance of continued collaboration among law enforcement agencies. The LVMPD also credited Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada Sigal Chattah for her leadership in advancing the indictments…