Members of a Chinese family-run crime ring that allegedly used massage parlors as fronts for pimping, prostitution and human trafficking are facing years behind bars in Ventura County.
uncertain
that → run → County
Prosecutors say the pay-for-sex empire was run by Xiangwei Ma, 56, along with her husband, Ming Ma, 40; her brother, Xiangdong Ma, 54; and her sister, Li Ma, 60.
asserted
empire → say → husband
A Ventura County jury found all four guilty of multiple felonies on Sept. 24 and 29 for their roles in what prosecutors say was a sprawling pimping operation that ran for more than a decade.
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that → find → decade
“Illicit massage businesses are often fronts for human trafficking and pimping where victims are coerced into performing commercial sex work,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said.
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Nasarenko → coerce → work
“This case demonstrates our commitment to use the full weight of this office to hold these offenders accountable,” he added.
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he → demonstrate → office
The investigation into the Ma family began in 2020, when several law enforcement agencies received anonymous letters detailing alleged prostitution and human trafficking at Ventura County massage parlors, including Miracle Massage in Ventura and A+ Massage in Port Hueneme.
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agencies → begin → Hueneme
Investigators determined that members of the Ma family worked together to operate brothels disguised as legitimate massage parlors, recruiting and exploiting women from China for commercial sex, according to the Ventura County DA’s Office.
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members → determine → Office
The family also allegedly moved and concealed at least $1.25 million in prostitution profits, laundering the cash through financial institutions, life insurance policies, casinos and real estate transactions.
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family → move → institutions
Prosecutors are now seeking to seize the assets.
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Prosecutors → seek → assets
The operation allegedly ran through a string of seedy massage parlors where customers paid for sex rather than a rubdown.
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customers → run → rubdown
All of the businesses have since closed.
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All → close → businesses
One was Miracle Massage on Main Street in Ventura, where online reviews raised red flags about what was happening behind the doors.
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what → raise → doors
“It is 100% a massage place that is for guys looking for a happy ending,” one patron wrote in a 2016 Yelp review.
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patron → look → review
“She asked me if I wanted one and I was super shocked, as she slid her hand near my privates, I told her NO I’m here for only a massage.”
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I → ask → massage
The reviewer added, “This place needs to be shut down!”
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place → add → ?
Xiangwei Ma, whom prosecutors identified as the ringleader, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted pandering in Los Angeles County and served an 18-month prison sentence, according to the DA.
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prosecutors → identify → DA
While she was behind bars, prosecutors say other family members stepped in to run the brothels.
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members → say → brothels
After her release, Xiangwei Ma allegedly reclaimed control of the operation and used other people as “straw,” owners to conceal her involvement in businesses and real estate.
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Ma → reclaim → businesses
One alleged money-laundering scheme centered on a home on Crowne Oak Lane in Simi Valley, where prosecutors say Xiangwei Ma lied about her employment and income before attempting to obtain a short sale on the property.
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Ma → center → property
All four family members were taken into custody at the Ventura County Jail following the jury verdicts.
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members → take → verdicts
They are scheduled to be sentenced later this month and in November.
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They → schedule → November
Xiangwei Ma faces 17 years in state prison for pimping, mortgage fraud and money laundering.
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Ma → face → pimping
Xiangdong Ma, Li Ma and Ming Ma face 13 years, eight years and 11 years, respectively, for pimping and money laundering.
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Ma → face → pimping
A fifth defendant, Jaime Calderon, Li Ma’s husband, pleaded guilty to money laundering in August 2023 and was sentenced to time in Ventura County Jail.
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defendant → plead → Jail
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