Four people have been arrested on charges
of operating a multi-state prostitution ring. Unruean Aboulafia, 34, is a
Thai national and suspected ringleader of the group. She is charged with
conspiracy to transport individuals in furtherance of prostitution, conspiracy
to use a communication facility to promote prostitution (using computers and
cellphones to advertise and facilitate sexual services), and conspiracy to
engage in money laundering.
Aboulafia is a resident of Bellevue, Washington, and has
pleaded not-guilty to the charges of operating and furthering residential
brothels in Kirkland, Bellevue, Chicago, Scottsdale, and Falls Church/Tysons
Corner, Virginia. She allegedly recruited Thai women by paying their smuggling
debts (up to $60,000) and setting them up in apartments.
The other three who were arrested include Thanyathorn Mohr,
Xinping Zhang, and Jeff Chu. Mohr is also a Thai national, though she is a
legal resident of the U.S. A Bellevue resident, Mohr is accused of being the
“operator” for the prostitution ring, answering phone calls, making
appointments, and giving directions to the apartments of the women. Zhang and
Chu stand accused of leasing the apartments used in the operation and
laundering money into various bank accounts. Zhang is a Chinese national
legally in the U.S., and Chu is a U.S. citizen.
One other person has been indicted in the case—Edward
Flanigan of Federal Way, WA. At the time of this article’s writing, Flanigan
had not yet attended his first court appearance to enter a plea. Aboulafia’s
ex-husband may also be involved in the prostitution ring, but has not yet been
called to appear in Seattle’s federal court, as have the others.
The women’s services were apparently advertised on
backpage.com, which is an online advertising website. This is not the first
time prostitution has reportedly been facilitated on the site. Aboulafia’s
operations have been going on since April 2009 and were finally shut down this
February as a result of an undercover investigation.
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