More Than a Massage? Ross Police Charge 3 in Prostitution Bust

Ross Township police have charged two employees and the manager of the Tokyo Day Spa, located at 2312 Babcock Boulevard, with prostitution.

The arrests are the result of a combined investigation of the Ross Police Department and the Law Enforcement Component of the Western Pennsylvania Human Trafficking Task Force.

Ross Police said that an undercover officer entered the spa Monday and made a deal for a paid sex act. "Once this deal had been reached the rest of the officers entered the business and arrested the two women who were to perform the act as well as the manager," said Ross Detective Brian Kohlhepp.

Yu Yayan, 49, and Lifen Chen, 41, are charged with one count each of prostitution and criminal conspiracy.

The manager, Linlin Xu, 29, is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy and promoting prostitution.

"All three presented out of state identification, however they appeared to be staying in the building," said Kohlhepp. "These massage parlors are becoming more common in the county, and we want to make sure they are legitimate businesses."

The three women were arraigned before Magistrate Richard Opiela, and were taken to the Allegheny County jail on $5,000 bond.

Patch first learned of the case when blogger Dan Burda spotted a Ross patrol outside the day spa Monday.

Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter. Check out some of today's other top stories here.