Vice detectives confirmed prostitution was taking place inside the business and surveillance indicated the possibility of sex trafficking, which is frequently found in illicit massage businesses. Over the next several months the investigation expanded to include identification of the operators, investors, and owners of the business.
Today, October 30, 2019, the Dallas Police Department, along with local law enforcement partners, executed search warrants at Jade Spa and eight associated addresses in Dallas, Carrollton, Grapevine, Arlington, Southlake, and Irving.
A search warrant was executed at Dragon House restaurant in the 2600 block of E. Southlake Blvd. in Southlake, Texas. The restaurant is directly tied to Jade Spa’s owners and management and is financially linked to the illegal activities at Jade Spa.
In addition to the search warrants, officers executed arrest warrants for the following people who were involved in the financing and operation of Jade Spa. All the suspects below were charged with Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
Capture 1
Chung Shendelman – 62-year-old, Asian female
Yong Bei-Wang-Murphy – 51-year-old, Asian female
Yong Suk Brown – 61-year-old, Asian female
Unlu Gurpinar – 64-year-old, White male
Sangchan Byun – 41-year-old, Asian male
Jae Jasmin Lee – 48-year-old, Asian Female
Three additional suspects remain at large.
Those arrested were taken to Dallas Police headquarters to be interviewed before being transported to the Dallas County Jail.
Detectives detained multiple individuals inside the search warrant locations and are working with governmental and non-governmental organization partners on-site to identify and offer support to those found to be victims of trafficking.
The City of Dallas Certificate of Occupancy for Jade Spa has been revoked and community prosecutors from the City Attorney’s Office have obtained a temporary restraining order to keep the business from reopening. Warrants were also executed at several local banks and approximately $370k related to the criminal operation was seized and/or frozen.
The Dallas Police Department extends thanks to our state and federal partners for their assistance and to our law enforcement partners with the Irving, Arlington, Grapevine, and Southlake Police Departments for their assistance in executing multiple search warrants in their respective jurisdictions. This complex investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released at soon as practicable.
