Spokesperson Says No Illegal Immigrants Were In Massage Parlors

A spokesperson for three Tuscaloosa-area massage parlors that were raided in a human trafficking investigation last week said no one who was working there is an illegal immigrant.

As the Thread previously reported, Tuscaloosa Police assisted the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force and the federal Homeland Security Investigations in searches at two businesses in Tuscaloosa and one in Northport at the end of an 18-month investigation.

The owner, 70-year-old Jianping Chen, was ultimately arrested and charged with four counts so far of promoting prostitution.

Get our free mobile app

Court records filed after the raids say undercover agents who received massages at the parlors were asked to tip above and beyond the norm if they would like to add sexual services to their visit.

Chen reportedly denied knowledge of such offers and attributed any larger-than-normal tips to generous clients.

When the arrest was announced, WAHTTF said HSI staff who speak Mandarin were working to determine the immigration status of nine women who were reportedly living in the parlors, and which, if any, were victims of human trafficking.

Over the weekend, a spokesperson for the parlors said all the women are in the United States legally.

The spokesperson stated that they are not yet authorized to comment on the criminal allegations, but wanted to clarify the facts regarding the employees' immigration status.

"Everyone checked out, and there is no knowledge of any illegal aliens or anyone with expired immigration paperwork," the spokesperson said.

The Human Trafficking Task Force referred questions about immigration status to HSI, which is limited in staff due to the ongoing government shutdown.

For more coverage of the case and other local news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.