Norwalk, Connecticut, United States
An international prostitution ring operated 19 brothels in the Northeast, from Rhode Island to Washington DC. The brothels were run out of “businesses” including massage parlors, health spas, and acupuncture clinics. Some of the known locations include: Crystal Spa on West Ave. in Norwalk, Connecticut and Cleveland Park Holistic Health on Connecticut Ave. in Washington DC. Several brothels were also found on West 26th St. and 59th St. in Manhattan. The brothels’ clients were generally Asian customers, who had learned of the establishment by word of mouth. The victims were recruited in Korea to come to the US, and travel with false documents or were smuggled across the Mexican or Canadian border. The victims’ identification and travel documents were taken, and she was threatened to be beaten or have her family in Korea harmed is she tried to leave. They were told they had to pay of tens of thousands of dollars in traveling debt from their trip.