A 53-year-old woman has been charged by the State of Alaska for her role in managing an alleged prostitution operation in Anchorage.
From 2011 to 2014, Yin Mei Tran Lau operated Yin’s Massage Therapy, located at 4608 Spenard Rd., as “a front for prostitution,” according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The massage parlor’s clientele was almost entirely men, the release says, citing detectives who investigated the case. The only women, besides Lau, at the business appear to have resided there and offered to perform sexual acts for money. Lau also allegedly transported multiple women in and out of the state for prostitution.
Along with third-degree sex trafficking, Lau is also charged with structuring — breaking down large amounts of cash into smaller deposits to evade suspicion of money laundering. Over the course of one week in January 2009, Lau made multiple transactions, all under the $10,000 reporting threshold, “so as to evade reporting requirements mandated by the Bank Secrecy Act, the release says. She allegedly used some of the illegally structured funds to purchase property in Anchorage.
Lau faces five years imprisonment and fines, if convicted, for the structuring charge. If convicted of sex trafficking, she faces up to five years in prison.
Lau’s arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 16.