Women Were Paid For Sex At Bergen County Couple's 7 Massage Parlors, Feds Say

PALISADES PARK, NJ — A Bergen County couple pleaded guilty on Tuesday to promoting prostitution at their seven massage parlors in New Jersey and New York, federal officials said.

Zhejun Piao, 38, and Miyeon "Maya" Choi, 38, of Palisades Park, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate travel and to use of the mail in aid of a racketeering enterprise, said the office of U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.

Frazer's office said women were paid $160 to $175 for sexual services at the spas.

"Many of the spas provided customers with loyalty or rewards cards whereby customers would receive a stamp for each visit and receive a free visit after collecting a certain number of stamps," the U.S. Attorney's Office noted.

Many of the women lived at the spas, which were open from 8 a.m. to midnight, and some provided sexual services to approximately 20 men a day, federal officials said.

Choi admitted to being a leader or organizer of the conspiracy in which she, Piao, and other co-conspirators owned or operated these spas, officials said:

• Coco Spa in Paterson
• Gold Spa and 785 Spa in Passaic
• 365 Spa in Fairview
• Queen Spa and Hawaii Spa in Edgewater
• Good Day Spa in East Brunswick
• Spa Wellness in Toms River
• New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Choi admitted to "recruiting women to work at the spas, communicating with customers by phone to book appointments, controlling the money generated by the spas, and advertising the sexual services offered at the spas online," officials said.

She also admitted to directing co-conspirators to deliver condoms and groceries to spas, officials said.

Piao admitted to delivering supplies such as mouthwash, condoms, medications, and cleaning supplies, prosecutors said. He also picked up ledgers, receipts, and cash proceeds from the spas.

"Both Choi and Piao admitted to storing tens of thousands of condoms in their home in addition to approximately $1.2 million in cash," prosecutors noted.

As part of their guilty pleas, Choi and Piao agreed to forfeit the cash, numerous designer handbags, luxury watches, and jewelry.

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of the mail and any facility in aid of a racketeering enterprise carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6.