Warwick Woman Among 10 Arrested in CPD Massage Business Raids

CRANSTON, RI — On June 17,  the Cranston Police Detective Division’s Special Victims Unit executed six search warrants at suspected illegal Cranston massage businesses arrested eleven people, including one Warwick resident, for allegedly providing massage services without a license.

Six of the businesses were shut down as a result of the arrests:

• 761 Park Ave, Cranston (Tim’s and Maria Hair Salon)
• 938 Park Ave, Cranston (unnamed business)
• 973 Reservoir Ave, Cranston (unnamed business)
• 1732 Broad St, Cranston (unnamed business)
• 1340 Plainfield St, Cranston (Little Genie Tanning Salon)
• 96 Rolfe Square, Cranston (Natural Care Foot Spa)

Cranston Police reported their arrest of Wei Liang, 64, of 12 Dolores Ct, Warwick, RI, on a charge of Practicing of Massage Therapy, License Required. She was one of 11 people arrested as the warrants were executed. The others were:

• Xida Chen, 44, of 1 Nassau St (apt 613), Boston, MA
• Su Ying, 36, of 761 Park Ave, Cranston, RI
• Zhenyan Liang, 45, of 761 Park Ave, Cranston, RI
• Xiamei Ye, 41, of 938 Park Ave, Cranston, RI
• Hong Jie Chen, 56, of 973 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, RI
• Aiyun Plante, 54, of 973 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, RI
• Meiying Zheng, 35, of 1732 Broad St, Cranston, RI
• Yeon Su Heflin, 44, of 5639 208th St, Oakland Garden, NY
• Yu-Ping Wang, 62, of 3415 12th St, Astoria, NY

Ann Woo, 58, of 1340 Plainfield Street, Cranston, RI, was also arrested at the Little Genie Tanning Salon for Practicing of Massages, License Required, and Pandering/Permitting Prostitution. The Cranston Police Department previously arrested Woo in 2014 for similar charges.

All property owners were notified of the illegal activity occurring at each location. They will be receiving official notice of yesterday’s actions by the City of Cranston. Members of the Cranston Building Inspectors Office and the Cranston Fire Department accompanied Detectives due to suspected zoning and fire code violations.

“Yesterday’s operation demonstrates the commitment that our police department has in shuttering businesses in our city that our fronts for illegal activity to include prostitution and sex trafficking,” said CPD Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist.

Our residents deserve to live in a peaceful and safe community, and we take all quality life issues seriously. I thank the many residents that brought these illegal businesses to our attention. We are also sensitive to the fact that many individuals are often forced to engage in prostitution and to live in squalled living conditions out of fear. We are actively assisting many of the persons encountered during yesterday’s operation with various resources that will help them escape the situation that was imposed on them.”