A multi-agency investigation in March, led by the Somerset Police Department and the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), has culminated in the arrest of a Somerset woman on charges related to human trafficking and prostitution after a bust at a local massage parlor, officials said. The Somerset Police Department posted on social media that on July 8, detectives, NCIS Special Agents, and support personnel executed search and arrest warrants at Lotus Flower Body Works, a massage parlor located at 1680 Grand Army Highway.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Yuehong Wang, 53, who is now facing charges which include trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution, sexual conduct for a fee, and several other offenses related to the illicit business, authorities confiscating $51,444 in U.S. currency and various items that are believed to be evidence of a criminal enterprise, and the investigation also revealed another associated location in Tyngsborough, leading to a parallel investigation.
In the official statement, Somerset Police extended "sincere gratitude" to the NCIS agents involved and expressed appreciation for the translation services provided by Officer Fuming Chen of the Plymouth Police Department, who played a crucial role in facilitating communication during the search. They also highlighted the significant contributions of Connecticut State Trooper Frederick Jones and his K9 partner, Freda, a trained currency detection dog whose involvement was pivotal to the search.
Details regarding the extent of the trafficking operation and the conditions of the victims have not yet been disclosed, but the announcement of an associated investigation in Tyngsborough suggests that the network could be more widespread than initially discovered, with Somerset Police Department detectives collaborating with their Tyngsborough counterparts to further probe potential leads in the case.
