t-tocs
Jun 27th, 2008, 06:08 PM
http://www.kxan.com/global/story.asp?s=8544129
http://kxan.images.worldnow.com/images/8544129_BG1.jpg
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- Police officers have halted a nationwide Asian prostitution ring based in Austin.
Neighbors living in the Balcones Woods Apartments in Northwest Austin said they were stunned to hear women were suspected of being sold for sex in one of the apartments.
"Never heard anything crazy," said neighbor John Prine.
Prine shared a wall with neighbors he thought were extremely quiet, never hearing anything behind that wall.
"(I was) shocked! I would just come home, never noticing anything," Prine said. "There would be people outside, but that would be about it."
Prine only noticed one Asian woman walk out of the apartment, but he never thought anything of it.
"It's like, 'Wow! What is going on here,' you know?" Prine said. "They obviously weren't drawing attention to themselves. I never noticed any cars at weird hours and stuff."
What Prine did not know is that Carl Clark, 56, and his wife, Yuzhi Jia, 44, were suspected of running a prostitution ring that exploited Asian women from an apartment.
"They were getting Asian females from different parts of the United States every month and recruiting girls to perform services," said police Detective James Mason.
Police were first tipped off a year ago by suspicious neighbors at the Balcones Ranch Apartments, where police said they believe Clark and his wife operated before moving to Balcones Woods.
Officers said they are not sure how many women Clark and Jia sold for sex.
"Once these girls get here, they receive some money, but not a lot," Mason said. "They feel trapped within their apartment and can't get out."
Investigators discovered AsianPearlGirl.com, a Web site that operated under the sensual massage parlor guise. Undercover agents posed as customers and obtained the evidence they needed to bring the husband-and-wife team down.
One of the suspected prostitutes, Yan Zhang, 45, was arrested for prostitution.
Officers said they believe there may be many more prostitutes involved.
If you have any information in this case, call the Austin Police Department's Sex Crimes Tip Line at (512) 974-5095.
http://kxan.images.worldnow.com/images/8544129_BG1.jpg
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- Police officers have halted a nationwide Asian prostitution ring based in Austin.
Neighbors living in the Balcones Woods Apartments in Northwest Austin said they were stunned to hear women were suspected of being sold for sex in one of the apartments.
"Never heard anything crazy," said neighbor John Prine.
Prine shared a wall with neighbors he thought were extremely quiet, never hearing anything behind that wall.
"(I was) shocked! I would just come home, never noticing anything," Prine said. "There would be people outside, but that would be about it."
Prine only noticed one Asian woman walk out of the apartment, but he never thought anything of it.
"It's like, 'Wow! What is going on here,' you know?" Prine said. "They obviously weren't drawing attention to themselves. I never noticed any cars at weird hours and stuff."
What Prine did not know is that Carl Clark, 56, and his wife, Yuzhi Jia, 44, were suspected of running a prostitution ring that exploited Asian women from an apartment.
"They were getting Asian females from different parts of the United States every month and recruiting girls to perform services," said police Detective James Mason.
Police were first tipped off a year ago by suspicious neighbors at the Balcones Ranch Apartments, where police said they believe Clark and his wife operated before moving to Balcones Woods.
Officers said they are not sure how many women Clark and Jia sold for sex.
"Once these girls get here, they receive some money, but not a lot," Mason said. "They feel trapped within their apartment and can't get out."
Investigators discovered AsianPearlGirl.com, a Web site that operated under the sensual massage parlor guise. Undercover agents posed as customers and obtained the evidence they needed to bring the husband-and-wife team down.
One of the suspected prostitutes, Yan Zhang, 45, was arrested for prostitution.
Officers said they believe there may be many more prostitutes involved.
If you have any information in this case, call the Austin Police Department's Sex Crimes Tip Line at (512) 974-5095.