Montgomery County police charged a woman with sex trafficking while operating an illegal spa in Rockville, the agency said. Now, authorities are searching for more potential victims, according to a release.
The arrest marks the third incident in recent months involving an illicit spa and human trafficking in the county, police said.
Authorities said Yang Jiang, 63, of New York, is accused of running an unlicensed spa in the 14800 block of Physicians Lane.
In November of 2022, detectives began an investigation into the spa after finding ads with scantily clad Asian women in lingerie on a website known to solicit prostitution.
During the investigation, detectives saw men entering and leaving the “spa.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 28, detectives secured a search warrant for the spa, and on Wednesday, Jan. 4, detectives executed the warrant.
Authorities interviewed a sex trafficking victim who said that she had been hired by Jiang to provide massage services and that she could make extra money by providing sexual services to the clients.
Jiang was arrested on January 4 and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where she was charged with prostitution.
On Friday, Jiang was charged with two counts of sex trafficking.
“This arrest is the third incident in recent months involving an illicit spa and human trafficking in Montgomery County," said Chief Marcus Jones. "This underscores the real and rising threat posed by human trafficking in the region. Victims of human trafficking are not always forced into trafficking by brute, physical means. Victims are often coerced into being trafficked over a period of time through deliberate, psychological tactics used by their traffickers, so the signs of trafficking may not always be obvious,. There are several ways that victims of trafficking can obtain help and can contact either the police department directly or the Montgomery County Crisis Center.”
Anyone with information regarding Yang Jiang is asked to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police Vice and Intelligence Unit at 240-773-5958 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.
There is a concern that there may have been additional women hired and potentially victimized by Yang Jiang, and detectives are asking for them to come forward.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sex trafficking, please contact the Montgomery County Crisis Center. The Crisis Center provides free crisis services 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Services are provided by telephone (240-777-4000) or in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville (no appointment needed), or call 911.