$500,000 bonds set in massage-parlor case

DELAWARE, Ohio — Bond was set yesterday at $500,000 each for the owners of massage parlors raided by state and local authorities who believe 18 women were involved in human trafficking and prostitution.

Qing Xu, 57, and Xiao Shuang Chao, 56, who speak Mandarin Chinese, needed an interpreter for their initial appearance before Delaware County Municipal Judge David Gormley.

The couple denied charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and promoting prostitution and told Gormley they have a home and own their businesses. They were being held yesterday in the Delaware County jail.

Raids took place on Thursday at:

Amsun Massage, 128 E. Olentangy St., Powell.

Amsun Massage, 1000 High St., Worthington.

Rainbow Massage, 5564 Hilliard-Rome Rd., Columbus.

The couple’s residence, 2144 Jasmine Court on the Far West Side of Columbus, also was raided.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday. They also might face a grand jury indictment, said Julie Datko, of the Delaware County prosecutor’s office. A third suspect, believed to be Xu’s sister, is living in California.

Powell Police Chief Gary Vest said the Salvation Army is caring for seven women who had been living and working out of the downtown Powell shop since October.

“These were women who had passports and who could come into the country legally,” Vest said. “They were operating under an established massage business. It’s just that the condition of the work brought the establishment into question.”

Vest said the women likely feared the police and were unable to communicate.

“If they want to cooperate and want some assistance from our government, you help them as you would someone with a drug problem,” he said.

The women were sleeping on massage tables, and food was brought in for them as they served up to 15 customers a day, Vest said.

“If people come in from another country and believe this is the only way they can make a decent living, we have a responsibility to do something.”