Boardman police raid Market Street spa suspected of prostitution operation

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A woman is scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Area Court today after her arrest on charges of prostitution during a raid at a township spa.

Liao Xiuhua, 59, is charged with misdemeanor prostitution and felony promoting prostitution after her arrest Tuesday at Tuina Spa, 5600 Market St. She was in the Mahoning County jail Wednesday, pending her court appearance.

Township police executed a search warrant related to a prostitution investigation at the business Tuesday afternoon, according to a police report.

Through an interpreter, Xiuhua reportedly told police that she traveled to the United States from her home in China to answer an advertisement looking for a spa worker.

“Xiuhua claimed that she has no idea who her boss is, [and] that she did not meet anyone after she arrived in the U.S., and that she took a bus from the airport to her place of employment and was residing there,” the report states.

An unidentified customer reported to police that he paid Xiuhua $100 for her to perform a sex act during a massage.

Police found numerous personal effects, including a Chinese passport in Xiuhua’s name, in the spa, according to the report.

Police also spoke with the building’s landlord, who reportedly claimed to be unaware of any criminal activity and of who worked at the spa.