Pair accused of human trafficking and prostitution
LAWRENCE >> Police arrested three people at the conclusion of an eight-month long investigation into human trafficking.
Police said that on August 21 they arrested Kevin I. Jasper, 56, and Jianying Chen — who is also known as Jianying C. Collins — 48, of West 47th Street in Manhattan, New York. Police allege that Jasper and Chen transported numerous Asian women from New York City to the Red Roof Inn in Lawrence. There the women would be engaged in prostitution and the money would be turned over to Jasper. The pair would promote their criminal activity using various online escort websites, police said. Jasper and Chen each received charges of first degree human trafficking and three counts of third degree promoting prostitution. They were housed in the Mercer County Corrections Center on $150,000 bail, police said on Wednesday.
The third person, Hong Wang, 38, also of West 47th Street in Manhattan, New York was arrested and charged with two counts of engaging in prostitution. Wang was processed and released on a summons, police said.
Lawrence police said that the investigation remains ongoing and they are working to identify additional victims of the prostitution scheme.
While the Lawrence Township Police Department took the lead the investigation, they credit the success of the operation to working with the assistance of the Mercer County Prosecutors Office and the Department of Homeland Security (Investigation and Enforcement Removal Operations).