3 arrested in connection with human trafficking after VB police raid local massage parlors

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Authorities have arrested three people in connection with crimes related to human trafficking in Virginia Beach.

According to police, the arrests resulted from an investigation conducted by the VBPD Special Investigations Bureau along with members of U.S. Homeland Security.

From January to May of this year, authorities executed search warrants on four massage parlors and three residences in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Williamsburg.

Following the investigation, authorities arrested 33-year-old Norfolk resident Yang Gao, 32-year-old Virginia Beach resident Ye Wang, and 35-year-old Norfolk resident Si Liu.

The three are facing several charges including sex trafficking, maintaining a bawdy place, aiding or assisting in prostitution, and pandering, pimping, or receiving money from a prostitute.

A search warrant obtained by 10 On Your Side reveals more about where the alleged crimes were occurring.

Following multiple tips, a detective from the Special Investigations VICE unit went undercover and contacted a number found on a prostitution advertisement. The detective was told to come to the address of 4801 Shell Road in Virginia Beach, according to the warrant.

On January 13, the detective went to the location.

“Inside the business an agreement was made for $50 for a massage and $100 for a sexual act,” the warrant reads. “An act of furtherance was attempted but not completed.”

The same type of operation was completed for a separate massage parlor located at 4966 Euclid Road.

Detectives traced Gao to both of them, documents state.

The Euclid Road location has since been cleared of any evidence of a business, however neighboring tenants, which include a church, tell 10 On Your Side it was clear it was a brothel.

The location on Shell Road had art over most of the windows with colorful lettering advertising “foot spa.”

The door was locked.