Three Suspects Arrested in Recent Prostitution Stings
Torrance Police Detectives culminated a two-month long investigation and arrested three suspects who were allegedly involved in multiple solicitations for sex incidents at several spa and massage businesses throughout the City of Torrance.
Ewon Ford, 58 years of Yorba Linda and Meishan Jin, 57 years of Redondo Beach were both taken into custody without incident on May 8, 2014, at the Iyu Healing Center, 24211 Hawthorne Blvd, after Torrance Detectives completed an undercover operation and were able to link both with engaging in the act of prostitution.
Shu Wang, 49 years of San Gabriel, was taken into custody without incident at the Shanya Massage, 1730 Sepulveda Blvd, and charged with the act of engaging in prostitution as Torrance Detectives completed an undercover operation there as well.
These arrests come on the heels of previous arrests on May 1, 2014, when Torrance Detectives received a tip from a concerned citizen that possible illegal activity was going on inside Foot Expertz, 2150 Redondo Beach Blvd. Undercover Detectives conducted a sting operation at that location and subsequently arrested Moraima Cruz-Gonzalez, 41 years of South Gate, and Kyungsoo Na, 65 years from Gardena. Cruz-Gonzalez was charged with engaging in the act of prostitution and Na was charged with felony pimping.
Criminalists of the Los Angeles County Crime Lab and Detectives with the Employment Development Department assisted Torrance Detectives with their investigations that have rapidly become a state-wide problem, partly due to Senate Bill 731 which was enacted in 2008 and gives municipal and county agencies reduced control when it comes to full regulation and enforcement of these establishments. The illicit and illegal activity that is being uncovered at these massage establishments are a definite quality of life concern and has a negative impact on the community.
Citations and/or arrests are commonly made by local law enforcement when unlawful activity occurs, but the chance of closing down these establishments are slim due to the fact that owners are not properly held responsible for the illegal conduct of their employees inside their respective business.
The City of Torrance currently has 60 licensed massage and spa within its city limits and while Senate Bill 731 was passed with good it intentions, it also passed not knowing that illegal establishments would hide behind the law and use it as a shield to prevent local governments from shutting down businesses engaging in prostitution and human trafficking.
If you have any additional information regarding these crimes please contact the Torrance Police Department at 310-328-3456.
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Non-Emergency: 310-328-3456
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Torrance Police Department –
Community Affairs Division
310-618-6391 or 310-618-6392
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Torrance Police Department
3300 Civic Center Dr
Torrance, CA 90503
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 310-328-3456