2 arrested, N. Londonderry Twp. spa closed in human trafficking task force operation

Two women are facing prostitution charges after the Lebanon County Human Trafficking Task Force executed a search warrant Monday at New Venus Spa, the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

48-year-old Chunmei Zhang and 55-year-old Yong Jiao Wang were found living inside the spa and providing sexual services to customers, the DA’s office said. Detectives said they found a large supply of condoms hidden throughout the building — including in a refrigerator, sleeping quarters, and a garage — along with a substantial quantity of cash.

Zhang admitted both women provided sexual services in exchange for money, according to the DA’s office.

The search warrant came within 24 hours of a spa worker soliciting a man for sexual services, the DA’s office said.

Both women were arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge David Warner, who set bail at $100,000 each. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also issued immigration detainers for both women, according to the DA’s office.

According to court records, Wang was briefly detained at Lebanon County Correctional Facility before posting bail. Zhang is listed as still being held at the county jail in lieu of bail.

The DA’s office said detectives coordinated with county and municipal code enforcement agencies, which found the spa in violation of various codes. The spa was closed and boarded shut the same day, with the DA’s office paying the fee to secure the building.

New Venus Spa is the fifth such business shuttered by the task force in the past 10 months, the DA’s office said. Previous closures include Anne’s Spa in Cleona and Smile Spa, New New Spa, and MK Spa, all in Lebanon.

The task force’s efforts have resulted in charges against owners of three of the closed spas, including child pornography charges against one owner, along with additional prostitution charges, according to the DA’s office.

Warrants remain active for Chaio Ling Chiang of Philadelphia and Pei Chi Wu of Houston, Texas, on human trafficking and related charges, the DA’s office said.

According to the DA’s office, detectives interviewed each woman found providing sexual services during these operations and offered paid housing and other services in exchange for cooperation against owners and traffickers. Officials said the vast majority have refused assistance, telling police they chose the work voluntarily.

Anyone with information on suspected human trafficking can contact the Detective Bureau at 717-228-4403 or submit tips at lebanonda.org.