14 Arrested in Massage Parlor Investigation - WIFR

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UPDATE: BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) – Four massage parlors on State Street in Belvidere are now closed.

Executive Relaxation Station appears to blame water damage, promising to reopen as soon as possible. Belvidere Police shut down the businesses two days ago, arresting 14 people after a 14-month long investigation.

"This is an issue that's run on for a number of years," says Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain.

Police are currently pouring over employee and financial records, digital hard drives and security videos trying to piece together exactly what was happening inside these spas. Right now investigators say they believe illegal massages, sexual acts and prostitution.

"The scourge of massage parlors have placed a blight on the moral fabric of this city," says Belvidere Chief of Police Jan Noble.

"All of sudden we had two more massage parlors open up on State Street and that's not the direction we wanted to see downtown Belvidere go in," says Chamberlain.

Many nearby business owners and neighbors say the raids aren't surprising as most people in Belvidere know what goes on at these massage parlors.


"I'm glad to see the police department get in there and be able to make the needed arrests and not only get them out of the town for the sake of the kids but that's also human trafficking and we don't want human trafficking in a family oriented town like Belvidere," says 11-year- resident Phillip Klikas.

Others hope new businesses will soon replace the four now closed spas, bringing legitimate money to the area.

Police say they expect more arrests and more charges to come. They say they aren't sure at this time if any of the suspects arrested are victims of human trafficking.

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BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) – Fourteen people have been arrested after multiple law enforcement agencies investigated four different massage parlors in Belvidere.

The charges of those arrested range from promoting prostitution, prostitution, solicitation of a sex act, and massage licensing act violations.

Belvidere Police say after receiving a number of complaints from the community they simultaneously executed search warrants at C’est La Vie Health Spa & Modeling (401 S. State Street), Spa Tui-Na (120 N. State Street), Executive Relaxation Station (134 N. State Street), and Royal Oriental Massage (404 S. State St.).

During the investigations, police seized a vehicle financial records, employee records, computers, digital hard drives, security video and security video equipment, about $15,000-$20,000 in cash, massage lotions, and sexual devices.

Police say the raid closed the door to a 14-month multi-jurisdictional investigation. Police say more arrests and/or charges are expected.

The following list is those who have been arrested and charged:

Cynthia L. Wolfram, 57, of Beloit, WI, was charged with one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Angela N. Ehmen, 32 years old of Rockford, IL, was charged with one count of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor) and one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Mary E. Laidig, 67 years old of South Beloit, IL, was charged with one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Brandon L. Herringer, 29 years old of Rockton, IL, was charged with one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor), and a Failure to Appear Warrant.

Michael E. Cain, 48 years old of Beloit, WI, was charged with three counts of Promoting Prostitution (Class 4 Felony), and three counts of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Rade Vazic, 33 years old of Loves Park, IL, was charged with one count of Solicitation of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor).

Jazmine A. Martinez, 29 years old of Rockford, IL, was charged with one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Tina M. Parrish, 39 years old of Beloit, WI, was charged with one count of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor) and one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Nina M. Evans, 31 years old of Rockford, IL, was charged with one count of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor) and one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Wang Yue Ping, 29 years old was charged with one count of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor) and one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Qiuna Martin, 37 years old of Gilberts, IL, was charged with one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Suhua Zhang, 49 years old of Belvidere, IL, was charged with one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Jie Liu, 32 years old of Flushing, New York, was charged with one count of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor) and one count of Massage Licensing Act Violation (Class A Misdemeanor).

Danny B. Stovall, 73 years old of Sycamore, IL, was charged with one count of Solicitation of Prostitution (Class A Misdemeanor).

Belvidere Police say Michael Cain is in the Boone County Jail with no bond. All others who were charged were taken to the Boone County Jail with a $1500.00 10% bond.

Anyone with information pertaining to these or any other crimes to call the Belvidere Police Department at 815-544-2135 or Crime Stoppers at 815-547-7867. Information leading to an arrest and conviction can be subject to a cash reward.

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