Rose's Reflexology Spa owner Emily Zhang Lawrence, 47, was arrested and charged following a four-month police investigation that found dozens of male clients paying for illegal sexual acts, authorities said.
During the investigation, police stopped about 60 men as they were leaving the establishment β 18 of whom admitted to paying for sexual favors performed by employees. The employees, police said in court documents, are thought to be Chinese immigrants recruited from Flushing, New York β a nationally recognized human trafficking hub. Per court documents, police also believed that Lawrence β who owned multiple homes in Montgomery County β was using one of them as a "harboring apartment" for the female employees.
Using a GPS Tracker Search warrant on Lawrence's car, officers were able to confirm that she was shuttling the women back and forth from the apartment, which is located in Germantown. Patch has learned that a part-time contract employee with the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office was involved in the case, creating a conflict of interest.
Neither officials in Montgomery County nor Frederick County would comment on the part-time contract employee's role in the case. Nearby Places. Back to the Rockville Patch. Read more local news from Rockville.
Find out what's happening in Rockville with free, real-time updates from Patch. You're now signed up for local updates. Daily Newsletter The latest Rockville news delivered to your inbox every morning. Breaking News Alerts Real-time updates on breaking stories in Rockville. Not in Rockville?
