Two accused of human trafficking using massage parlor storefronts - WCVB Boston

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Two people have been arrested in connection with running an human trafficking ring, the Massachusetts Attorney General announced Monday.
Authorities said the operation was run in multiple communities including Bedford, Billerica, Medford, Reading, Wilmington, and Woburn.
Xiu J. Chen, 32, of Medford, and Ronald Keplin, 57, of Woburn, were arrested and charged with one count of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, six counts of deriving support from prostitution and six counts of keeping a house of ill fame.
“We allege that these individuals ran an extensive local human trafficking organization through what outwardly appeared to be legitimate businesses in multiple communities,â€￾ Attorney General Martha Coakley said.
Authorities claim Chen and Keplin operated six businesses that were portrayed as massage parlors but were in fact fronts for an extensive human trafficking operation.
The businesses are Bedford Asian Bodywork a/k/a Bedford Wellness Center in Bedford, Shrine Spa a/k/a Billerica Bodywork a/k/a Boston Chinese Club in Billerica, Mystic Health Center in Medford,Body Wellness Center in Reading,Body Language in* Wilmington and Asian Bodywork a/k/a Woburn Wellness Bodywork in Woburn.
Authorities say evidence indicated Chen and Keplin were the leaders of this operation, running a profitable and organized criminal enterprise through the businesses that had been set up as fronts for illegal activity.
Through the businesses, Chen and Keplin allegedly offered sexual activity between women they employed and their clients in exchange for a fee.
Authorities allege that together, Chen and Keplin coordinated the recruitment of women from across the eastern seaboard, including New York. They advertised sexual services on websites known to advertise prostitution, set up appointments for sexual encounters for the women, and managed the financial aspects of the organization.
They also allegedly arranged for overcrowded housing for the women and facilitated the daily transportation of the women to and from the businesses.