Police arrested six people Wednesday and charged them with promotion of prostitution and engaging in organized criminal activity in connection to an illicit massage business in Dallas, police say.
Dallas police executed search warrants at Jade Spa, in Dallas' Design District and at eight other locations in Arlington, Carrollton, Dallas, Grapevine, Irving and Southlake. The Southlake location was a restaurant, called Dragon House, in the 2600 block of E. Southlake Boulevard, police said.
Police said the Southlake restaurant had direct financial ties to the operators of Jade Spa.
"I think it’s big. If you told me a year ago that we would be able to undertake and operation of this complexity I would’ve been doubtful," said Major Max Geron of DPD's Criminal Investigation Bureau.
The six people arrested were identified as Yong Bei-Wang-Murphy, 51, Yong Suk Brown, 61, Sangchan Byun, 41, Unlu Gurpinar, 64, Jae Jasmin Lee, 48, and Chung Shendelman, 62.
Police said each was booked into Dallas County Jail after being interviewed at Dallas police headquarters.
The city of Dallas revoked Jade Spa's certificate of occupancy, while a temporary restraining order was obtained to keep the business from reopening, police said.
"The individuals that are involved in the slave aspect of it are truly just that. They are slaves," said Geron. "It doesn’t stand out. Certainly the people in the community know it’s there. But it’s not like a violent crime, it’s not something that gets noticed very often."
Police said six victims were taken from the massage parlor. Five of them took them up offers for further assistance through family services.
Police said approximately $370,000 related to the operation was seized or frozen.
Police said they were still looking for three others in connection to the massage parlor.
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Just two of the six mug shots were available through the Dallas County Sheriff's Office as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.
