Reading Time: Word Count:. A press conference Tuesday at Lake Havasu City Police Department with Homeland Investigation Services ICE agents and police officials, unveiled the details of a special investigation that began with a tip from a concerned citizen in April. At that point, the joint federal investigation with the Lake Havasu City Police Department and the Bullhead City Police Department determined the fact the businesses were violating human trafficking laws and other laws.
Weigand said the investigation focused on seven local massage parlors throughout Mohave County that were reportedly providing sexual encounters in exchange for money to undercover agents. Their movements were extremely restricted. As the investigation continued, agents learned the two female immigrant victims were living in deplorable conditions and were being moved to different locations once a week by a female boss.
The main suspects reportedly at the helm of the sex trafficking ring have been identified as Amanda Yamauchi, 46, and Dean Michael Bassett, The only income these women had were the tips they received for performing the massages and sexual acts.
The joint task force executed 10 search warrants at seven massage parlors and two homes in Mohave County. The raid lead to the arrest of three Chinese nationals, five United States citizens and the discovery of the two victims. We will continue to aggressively pursue the people, the johns that are paying and anybody that is involved. We have been surveilling these locations since May, so we know who is coming and who is going. We still have some follow up investigation to continue and a lot more work ahead of us.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline organization, in , Arizona had human trafficking cases reported and received calls relating to the issue. In , there were cases reported and calls received. At the conclusion of the five month special investigation, the following massage parlors and homes were raided:. Bullhead City Police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said charges are pending against Yuqin Shu, 56, on suspicion of money laundering, trafficking persons for forced labor, unlawfully obtaining labor, sex trafficking, procuring or placing persons in a house of prostitution, operating a house of prostitution, and prostitution.
