Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
Shaoping Wen and her son, Xu Wang, have been sentenced for their involvement in operating massage parlors as fronts for commercial sex operations. This was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad E. Meacham.
In September 2024, both Wen, aged 65, and Wang, aged 42, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Lubbock, Texas. They faced charges of conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering enterprises and other offenses related to illicit massage parlors in Texas and New Mexico. The indictment also included money laundering charges.
Court documents indicate that Wen owned at least seven massage parlors where illegal commercial sex activities took place. When she was out of state, Wang managed these establishments on her behalf.
Wen pled guilty to conspiracy charges in November 2024 and received a sentence of 12 months and one day in federal prison from U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk. Her sentence includes a one-year supervised release period following imprisonment. Additionally, she must forfeit $291,990.88 in currency and pay a money judgment amounting to $1,771,360 to the United States.
Wang pled guilty to misprision of a felony during the same month and was sentenced by Judge Kacsmaryk to time served (362 days), followed by one year of supervised release.
The court records detail that between June 2023 and February 2024 undercover officers visited Wen's parlors multiple times across Texas and New Mexico where they were offered sexual services for additional fees ranging from $140 to $200 by lingerie-clad women who often used translation apps for negotiations.
Further investigations revealed that some women arrested identified themselves as Chinese citizens with "laborer" listed as their occupation. On occasions when these women were detained for prostitution-related offenses, either Wen or Wang facilitated payment for their cash bonds.
Authorities noted instances where Asian females were transported directly from airports to the massage parlors operated by Wen without leaving the premises afterward according to neighbors' accounts; searches showed evidence suggesting residency within these establishments such as beds placed on floors along with items indicating sexual activity like condoms being found alongside approximately $291K+ cash seized during raids conducted back March last year while ads promoting explicit services appeared online targeting clientele seeking experiences labeled “girlfriend,” “porn star” among others despite prostitution remaining illegal within both states involved -Texas & NM alike!
Investigations led by multiple agencies including FBI Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency alongside Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Field Office among others helped gather critical information necessary towards successful prosecution handled expertly under guidance provided primarily via Assistant US Attorney Callie Woolam's efforts throughout proceedings culminating finally now concluded sentencing phase reached today marking closure chapter long-running criminal enterprise dismantled successfully bringing justice those impacted adversely due crimes committed herein documented comprehensively overall ensuring accountability upheld judicially just manner deserved rightfully so end result achieved ultimately!
