Three Arrested in Iowa City Human Trafficking Case Tied to Massage Parlors
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three individuals have been arrested in a human trafficking case involving two Iowa City massage parlors where women were forced to perform sex acts and endure grueling work hours, according to police.
Zhenshi Liu, 60, and Junping Ren, 56, both of Iowa City, are facing charges including prostitution, pimping, money laundering, and sexual assault. Their son, 33-year-old Yang Liu of Hoover, Alabama, was also arrested for allegedly laundering $1.5 million through his personal bank accounts.
Authorities say Liu and Ren operated Paradise Spa locations on Broadway Street and South First Avenue, and are accused of laundering a total of $2.6 million through the businesses. Police say both Liu and Ren also personally performed sex acts on clients.
An investigation, dubbed “Operation Safe Passage”, was led by the Iowa City Police Department in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and federal authorities. It uncovered evidence that female workers were forced to work from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, with minimal compensation and no control over their earnings.
Victims told investigators that clients were charged $70 per massage, but only a fraction of that reached the women—$40 went to the owners and $10 was deducted for “room and board.” Criminal complaints also noted that online ads for the spas were placed on websites known for promoting escort services.
Additionally, Zhenshi Liu is accused of sexually assaulting a female customer during a massage.
All three suspects are currently held on bond. Meanwhile, victim advocacy groups are now working with authorities to assist the survivors.
