Edward Y. Kim, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced the sentencing of Hong Ru Lin and Kena Zhao. The couple received prison sentences for operating prostitution businesses at several massage parlors across Putnam, Westchester, New York, and Queens County. U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas sentenced Zhao on January 10, 2025, to 12 months and one day in prison, while Lin received the same sentence today. Both individuals have also forfeited over $1.3 million gained from their illegal activities.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim stated: "Hong Ru Lin and Kena Zhao operated an extensive prostitution business, using massage parlors as cover for their illegal activities. Today’s sentences hold them accountable for their actions. This Office will continue to investigate those who sponsor illegal prostitution, even if their criminal activities take place behind the closed doors of supposedly legitimate businesses."
According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2020 to September 2023, Lin and Zhao ran a prostitution operation through multiple massage parlors they owned in Putnam, Westchester, New York, and Queens County. They managed a group of women who performed sexual acts for customers at these establishments. Communication was conducted via cellphone and private chatrooms to manage operations such as customer assignments and monitoring income.
In addition to serving prison time, Lin and Zhao will face two years of supervised release. They have agreed to forfeit bank accounts related to the massage parlors along with various assets and cash proceeds derived from their operations amounting to a $1.3 million money judgment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force with assistance from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office as well as local police departments including Carmel Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, and Yonkers Police Department.
Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison, Jamie Bagliebter, and Margaret N. Vasu from the Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division alongside the White Plains Division.