Sex-trafficking business disguised as spa busted, authorities say

HOUSTON – The owner of an alleged brothel was arrested Thursday, charged with money laundering, after authorities seized $24,000 in cash and several designer purses from her home and the spa where she works.

The woman, Ying Wen, has owned the Hana Top Spa in the 14000 block of Bammel North Houston for the past couple years.  Authorities believe it served as a front for a brothel, in which three other women were currently employed.  Investigators believe those three women are victims of sex-trafficking. 

In August the business was robbed and one of the women was repeatedly raped.  That incident is just one reason why Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson is trying to crack down on sex-trafficking operations across the county. 

“They go after these businesses because they know there is a large amount of cash inside and we've noticed in the last two months, a rash of robberies and sexual assaults occurring,” Anderson said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

She said in cases like this, expensive items like designer handbags are typically bought to hide the money trail, rather than putting it away in a bank, then the accused can later sell them.

If convicted, Wen could face 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.