BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Feng Yang Chen, 40, Liang Liang Guo, 30, and Cheng Qi Li, 27, all of Flushing, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with violating the Travel Act and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who is handling the case, stated according to the complaint, that the defendants used the website Backpage.com to promote a multi-state prostitution organization. They posted advertisements on Backpage.com which led to encounters with prostitutes in Tonawanda, NY as well as other cities and states. The complaint further states that the defendants operated a call center in Flushing, Queens that scheduled meetings between prostitutes and their clients.
The defendants made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and were released on conditions.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of James C. Spero, the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold III, the New York Police Department, under the direction of Chief William J. Bratton and the South Portland, Maine Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Googins.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
