WOMAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PIMPING FOUR WOMEN OUT OF THREE BROTHELS DISGUISED AS MASSAGE PARLORS IN THREE CITIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2017

Case # 14HF2390

WOMAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PIMPING FOUR WOMEN OUT OF THREE BROTHELS DISGUISED AS MASSAGE PARLORS IN THREE CITIES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman was sentenced today to five years and four months in prison for pimping four women out of three brothels disguised as massage parlors in three cities.

Circumstances of the Case

• Between August 2011 and September 2014, Tran operated three brothels disguised as massage parlors in Irvine, Lake Forest, and Stanton, using a home apartment and renting out two business spaces.
• The defendant posted advertisements on websites known for prostitution and communicated with customers to arrange “massages” for each victim to perform.
• Tran pimped 42-year-old Jane Doe 1, 24-year-old Jane Doe 2, 20-year-old Jane Doe 3, and 19-year-old Jane Doe 4, collecting money from the sex purchasers and providing condoms before each appointment.
• The defendant hired Jane Doe 4 and claimed the position was for a masseuse with no experience necessary.
• Tran pandered Jane Doe 4 by encouraging her to perform commercial sex acts, and later made the victim watch another woman performing sex acts.

On Sept. 2, 2014, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) arrested the defendant at the Lake Forest location. OCSD and the Irvine Police Department (IPD) investigated this case.

Members of the OCHTTF and the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. This case was investigated by OCHTTF, a partnership between Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, IPD, Newport Beach Police Department, OCDA, OCSD, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.

Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver of the HEAT Unit prosecuted this case.

Proposition 35 and HEAT

To read more about California’s anti-human trafficking Proposition 35 and the OCDA’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, please visit www.orangecountyda.org and select Human Trafficking Information from the Media Center drop down menu.