FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — A 52-year-old is facing several charges after an investigation into multiple massage parlors unveiled sex trafficking and prostitution in Frederick County.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office began their investigation after receiving numerous complaints of suspicious activity at Calla Spa in Urbana, Maryland, and YiYi Spa in Frederick, Maryland. After extensive surveillance, investigators were able to develop enough probably cause to obtain search warrants.
The sheriff's office was able to conduct the search and seizure warrants at the massage parlors on Oct. 28 and Huiping Hester was taken into custody. Hester was taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center by deputies to face charges of two counts of sex trafficking and 14 additional counts associated with trafficking and prostitution.
The sheriff's office released the following statement about the investigation:
“This long-term investigation, which dismantled this organized trafficking network, demonstrates our focus on the big-picture problem of human trafficking locally,” FCSO Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said. “This type of organized criminal activity is often closely associated with drug trafficking and other illicit activities.
The investigative goal is three-pronged, to include shutting down the operation, prosecuting those responsible, and getting the victims out of these enslaved conditions. This recent dismantling is simply a small sampling of a much larger problem regionally and nationally. The successful execution of these warrants is just another part of our efforts to keep Frederick County a safe place for everyone.”
If you are a victim of human trafficking or have information to report about this type of criminal activity, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline 888-373-7888 or the FCSO at 301-600-1046.
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