MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Undercover police officers found evidence of prostitution and human trafficking at Jee-Jee, LuLu, Shanghai and Jade, four massage parlors in Miami Beach.
Police shut down the four businesses from Fifth Street to Normandy Drive. They were questioning the employees Friday as possible victims of human trafficking.
Miami Beach police spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez said on Saturday that three people were arrested and two victims of human trafficking were rescued.
He said evidence and money was seized at each location.
Some of the employees, who were all Asian women, were living in the commercial property in very small living quarters, authorities said.
"We are compassionate to the likeliness that some of these women were forced into these roles," Miami Beach City Commissioner John Aleman said.
Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates said the eight-month investigation began after complaints from several residents and Crime Stoppers tips of allegations of human trafficking.
"This is both an investigation into prostitution and an investigation into human trafficking," Oates said.
City Manager Jimmy L. Morales revoked the four licenses, saying the massage parlors presented "an actual threat to the quality of life and safety" of the community.
LuLu Massage customers on Yelp warned about a "weird receptionist who happens to be a strange dude who walks around in his bare feet and seems really confused" and about the Asian women who "speak little English."
Authorities said one woman was arrested at Shanghai on a charge of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution.
One woman was arrested at Jade on a prostitution charge,
One woman was arrested at Je-Je on a human trafficking charge and two people were identified by police as victims of human trafficking.
No arrests have been made at this time at LuLu.
ABOUT THE OWNERS
State records show Wei Hao is the registered agent of LuLu at 7440 Collins Ave. Willie Walker was his partner when the business first opened in 2011. Shao Zhu Chen joined the business in 2012, but left two years later. Walker left in 2015.
Records show Qun Chen was the registered agent of Jade at 1020 71st St. Huayan Yang opened it in 2013 and Yini Yang joined the venture about a year later. Chen took over in 2015.
Records show Charles Jones has been the registered agent of Jee-Jee at 733 Fifth St. since 2013. Monica Lee was the president when it first opened in 2005 and Wesley Jones joined the business in 2009 until Charles Jones took over.