A Lake Oswego spa has been exposed as a human trafficking hub, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects. Local authorities identified Flora Spa as the center of a multi-state sex trafficking network after a meticulous investigation that began in July 2023. A KGW report reveals that the Boones Ferry Road spa was masquerading as a legitimate massage business.
Two individuals, Xiaoping Chen and Lihua Lin Kelsey, are facing several charges including promoting prostitution, and the Lake Oswego Police Department along with other law enforcement agencies disclosed that this network typically preys upon foreign women under the guise of legitimate businesses however, their exploitation is part of a much larger, more insidious reality. In their press release, the city confirmed the multi-jurisdictional nature of the ring, which involves individuals across multiple states.
Reflected in the depths of this revelation is the crime defined by authorities as "the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel individuals into performing sexual acts for money," a crime to which the Lake Oswego Police suspect at least 10 women are victims due to their involvement with Flora Spa, according to details from a KOIN report.
The operation culminated with multiple search warrants leading to arrests, and the authorities are actively pursuing others possibly involved in the illegal activities, detectives are currently reaching out to those who may have unwittingly availed themselves of services at the spa, for further questioning, the scope of their investigation remains wide as they piece together the full expanse of this trafficking web. This information echoes a press release detailed by the Lake Oswego Review, pinpointing the Flora Spa at 15630 Boones Ferry Road as the nucleus of the trafficking operation.
While the investigation is far from over, the Lake Oswego police are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in dismantling what appears to be a pervasive violation of human rights disguised under the facade of massage therapy. Public response and action are critical at this juncture to prevent further exploitation and to deliver justice to those who have fallen prey to these traffickers.
