Wen and Wang plead guilty in massage parlor case

On November 9, 2024By Pranco

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Two people behind a sex trafficking scheme at massage parlors in Lubbock and New Mexico are now pleading guilty to federal charges.

This is one follow-up to our KCBD research in May.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Massage parlor owners in Lubbock will go on trial in August

Shaoping Wen and Xu Wang were accused earlier this year of running massage parlors in Wolfforth, Lubbock and New Mexico where women charged customers for sex.

Police officers reported seeing Wen’s car picking up women, who identified themselves as Chinese nationals, from the airport and taking them directly to the salons.

Neighbors say the women never left the building.

Xu Wang, who identified herself as Wen’s son during a traffic stop, is accused of running the salons while she was out of town.

Now, both Wen and Wang have entered guilty pleas.

Wen pleaded guilty to federal racketeering and accepted a sentence of one year and one day in prison, with parole thereafter.

Wang pleaded guilty to a federal charge of “misdemeanor battery,” meaning he knew Wen was breaking the law and failed to report it. His agreement considers its time served. He will now also be on parole.

Both also face possible deportation from the US because of the pleas, but that would be decided in a different proceeding.