Score:   1
Docket Number:   SD-NY  7:18-cr-00159
Case Name:   USA v. Wu et al
  Press Releases:
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New York (“HSI”), announced today the arrest of GUI YOU WU, a/k/a “David, a/k/a “Michael,” YOUMEI CHEN, a/k/a “Ah Mei,” a/k/a “You Mei Chen,” GUIXIA WU, and HONG ZHONG, a/k/a “5023,” a/k/a “023,” stemming from a conspiracy to engage in the interstate trafficking of women, primarily Chinese nationals, for the purposes of prostitution.  GUIXIA WU was arrested in Bronxville, New York, and the other three defendants were arrested in Flushing this morning.  They will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison in White Plains federal court.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants promoted and managed a multi-state prostitution business through an extensive network of operators who worked in different locations to advertise and facilitate prostitution.  These defendants then allegedly raked in millions dollars from their illegal and exploitive activities.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney said:  “Prostitution is a serious and harmful offense. And, in some cases prostitution can serve as a gateway for criminals with direct connections to human trafficking, organized crime, and other illegal activities. The migratory nature of these crimes makes it critical for law enforcement entities to work together to tackle this widespread dilemma. We will continue to support our law enforcement partners who play a critical role in combating this type of criminal activity.” 

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “For years these individuals allegedly used women as a commodity, selling them for sex and transporting the women from hotel to motel and state to state.  For those who choose trafficking of people as a profession, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will face the consequences of your actions.”

According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in federal court:

Between about 2013 and 2017, GUI YOU WU was the manager of a business engaged in the interstate trafficking of women, primarily Chinese nationals, for the purposes of prostitution (the “Prostitution Business”).  As part of the Prostitution Business, GUI YOU WU and others transported women for the purposes of prostitution to and from hotels and motels in multiple states, including New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Missouri, and elsewhere, by means of vehicles and through the purchase of airline tickets. 

The Prostitution Business recruited customers through the placement and purchase of advertisements for escort services on classified websites such as Backpage.com.  CHEN, GUIXIA WU, and ZHONG assisted GUI YOU WU in the promotion and management of the Prostitution Business through, among other things, payment for hotels and other business expenses, placement of advertisements, coordination of travel, communication with women working as prostitutes, and the movement and receipt of proceeds from the Prostitution Business. 

GUI YOU WU also employed several individuals, including ZHONG, as telephone operators for the Prostitution Business (the “Operators”).  The Operators placed advertisements to recruit customers for the Prostitution Business and used cellphones to coordinate between the customers and the prostitutes.

*                *                *

GUI YOU WU, 46, of Flushing, CHEN, 51, of Flushing, GUIXIA WU, 49, of Bronxville, and ZHONG, 37, of Flushing, are each charged with one count of conspiring to violate the Mann Act and the Travel Act by conspiring to transport an individual or individuals in interstate commerce with the intent that such persons engage in prostitution, or any sexual activity for which a person can be charged with a criminal offense, and by traveling in interstate commerce or causing someone else to travel in interstate commerce or using or causing to be used the mail and facilities in interstate and foreign commerce, with the intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate unlawful prostitution and promotion of prostitution, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  GUI YOU WU is also charged with violating the Mann Act by knowingly transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that the individual engage in prostitution and sexual activity on or about February 25, 2016, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The statutory maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Any individuals who believe they have information that may be relevant to the investigation should contact the FBI at 212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

Mr. Berman praised the work of the FBI and HSI and thanked the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.  He added that the investigation is continuing.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Feinstein, Allison Nichols, and Jamie Bagliebter are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

 





Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eZXnuXY6nLY1uCfRf37a5TQcH5l87OUB9ZjsV4SfBUs
  Last Updated: 2024-03-24 05:10:23 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
Date of Announcement: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest Start Date: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest End Date: March 27, 2018
Photo: N
Arrested: 1
Rescued: Unknown
Country: US
State: NY
Arresting Agencies Involved: Multiple
Comments: Sex trafficking
Date of Announcement: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest Start Date: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest End Date: March 27, 2018
Photo: N
Arrested: 1
Rescued: Unknown
Country: US
State: NY
Arresting Agencies Involved: Multiple
Comments: Sex trafficking
Date of Announcement: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest Start Date: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest End Date: March 27, 2018
Photo: N
Arrested: 1
Rescued: Unknown
Country: US
State: NY
Arresting Agencies Involved: Multiple
Comments: Sex trafficking
Date of Announcement: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest Start Date: Mar 27, 2018
Arrest End Date: March 27, 2018
Photo: N
Arrested: 1
Rescued: Unknown
Country: US
State: NY
Arresting Agencies Involved: Multiple
Comments: Sex trafficking
Additional data courtesy @ArrestAnon 👼  
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