TRENTON — A Palisades Park husband and wife admitted in federal court that they helped run a prostitution operation tied to illicit massage parlors in New Jersey and New York, including one in South Toms River, federal authorities said.
Zhejun Piao, 38, and Miyeon Choi, also known as “Maya,” 38, each pleaded guilty May 26 before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said.
Both admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of the mail and any facility in aid of a racketeering enterprise.
Jersey Shore Online first reported on the husband and wife’s arrest in August of 2024.
According to federal court documents and statements made in court, the operation included nine spas, among them Spa Wellness in South Toms River. Authorities said the other locations were in Paterson, Passaic, Fairview, Edgewater, East Brunswick and New Rochelle, New York.
Prosecutors said the spas operated in a similar manner, with women providing sexual services to customers for fees of $160 or $175. Some businesses also used loyalty cards, giving customers stamps for each visit and offering a free visit after a certain number of stamps were collected, authorities said.
The spas were typically open from about 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Federal authorities said many of the women lived at the spas. Ledgers showed some women performed sexual services for about 20 men per day, prosecutors said.
Choi admitted she was a leader or organizer of the conspiracy. Authorities said she recruited women to work at the spas, handled customer calls and appointments, controlled money from the businesses and advertised the sexual services online.
She also admitted directing others involved in the operation, including asking one co-conspirator to deliver groceries and condoms to the spas and assigning another person to communicate with customers and record appointments, prosecutors said.
Piao admitted he delivered supplies to the spas, including groceries, mouthwash, cleaning supplies, medication and condoms. He also picked up ledgers, receipts and cash proceeds from the businesses, authorities said.
Both Piao and Choi admitted storing tens of thousands of condoms in their home, along with about $1.2 million in cash. As part of their guilty pleas, they agreed to forfeit the cash, designer handbags, luxury watches and jewelry.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6.
Frazer credited Homeland Security Investigations Newark, the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service and New Jersey State Police. He also thanked numerous local, county, state and federal agencies, including South Toms River police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.
