Maryland spa owner accused of sex trafficking arrested along with employee

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJLA) — The owner of several Maryland-based massage parlors and one of her employees were arrested and charged for alleged prostitution and sex trafficking crimes in March, local police said.

Chang Liu, 34, who owns massage parlors in Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County, and Laurel, Maryland, alongside Yinlian Wu, 50, were charged following a March 6 search warrant on Elegant Spa Kensington.

The search was the product of a six-month investigation started in October of 2023 and was a joint investigation with the Anne Arundel County and Laurel Police Departments.

Detectives said they saw dozens of customers, mostly men, enter the location daily and even received multiple statements claiming that customers paid money for illicit sexual acts within the facility.

Liu, Wu, and two other women reportedly lived inside the spa multiple times while the investigation was ongoing.

Liu was arrested on March 6 and charged with prostitution and sex trafficking charges. Wu, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested not long after and charged with previously trying to bribe a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector to keep the business open.

Both were taken to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and released on bond shortly after.

Police said they believe there were other victims employed at Liu's massage parlors and are asking them to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Montgomery County Police Department's Vice and Intelligence Unit at 240-773-5958.