NINE ARRESTED AFTER SIX-MONTH PROSTITUTION INVESTIGATION.

Byline: ERIC LEACH Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS -- Nine women were arrested and six massage parlors closed in a crackdown on prostitution following a six-month investigation, authorities said Thursday.

And more arrests are expected in the case being investigated by the Thousand Oaks police and Ventura County sheriff's departments and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

The accusations include pandering, immigration violations and misdemeanor massage license violations.

Although the standard fee for a massage was $40 to $60, some men paid separate fees -- referred to as ``tips'' -- for sexual services, investigators said.

``The prostitutes will often receive this payment in the form of a `tip' from their customers after the sexual act in an attempt to avoid the elements of prostitution,'' sheriff's Sgt. Mike De Los Santos said.

He said it was important to crack down on such illegal sex businesses because they typically lead to more vice-related crime.

``If you have five of them, you will end up getting 10 of them,'' he said.

Some of those arrested were Chinese nationals living illegally in the United States.

``People who are lured to this country for illicit purposes are often treated like a commodity, making them vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation,'' said ICE Agent David Wales.

``ICE is committed to working with its local law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises like this one that threaten not only the welfare of those involved, but also the quality of life in our communities,'' he said.

The arrests were made when search warrants were served June 14 and Wednesday, and the people taken into custody were from various parts of Southern California, including Granada Hills, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Rosemead, Pasadena and Alhambra. They include:

Yan Jun Hu, 39, of Granada Hills, the owner of the Asian Wellness Center, 166 N. Moorpark Road, who was arrested on suspicion of pandering.

Shuying Qi, 43, of Moorpark, the owner of Chinese Acupuncture Center, 1337 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., and Reflexology Plus, 5565 Lindero Canyon Road, on suspicion of pandering.

Gui Yun Yang, 42, of Camarillo, the owner of the Oriental Health Center, 1459 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., on suspicion of conspiracy to commit prostitution and keeping a house of prostitution.

Two misdemeanor arrests were also made at the HWA Rong Chinese Medical Clinic at 951 S. Westlake Blvd. Another arrest on suspicion of failing to obtain a license was made in connection with the former Asian Health Center Spa on Thousand Oaks Boulevard that recently closed.

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

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