Condom-clogged pipes lead Texas police to suspected prostitution

April 12 (UPI) -- Authorities in Texas said a pipe clogged with condoms led to the arrests of two people accused of operating a prostitution ring out of their massage parlor.

Police said the property manager for Jade Massage Therapy LLC in Austin contacted investigators Feb. 7 to report suspected prostitution at the business.

The property manager "became aware of a problem when an industrial waste disposal unit connecting the property to city sewer services became clogged and destroyed by hundreds of condoms," arrest affidavits quoted by the San Antonio Express-News state.

Investigators said the property manager's call was the second tip they received about suspected prostitution at Jade Massage Therapy.

Police launched an investigation that found the business was being advertised on a website that often solicits prostitution services and officers conducted a weekslong stakeout that involved pulling over two customers who left the massage parlor.

Both customers admitted to paying an extra fee at the business for sex acts.

Members of the Austin Police Department Human Trafficking Unit and members of the Criminal Conspiracy Unit executed a search warrant at the business March 22 and found Juan Wang, who owns the business with her husband, Joseph Emery, in a room with a nude man.

A second woman was found in a different room with another nude man, police said.

A search warrant also was executed at the couple's home, where police found $60,000 cash.

The investigation found Wang had been stopped by TSA agents Feb. 5 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport after she was found to be carrying $30,000 in "duct taped bundles" of cash. Wang said the money was from her massage parlor business and she was taking it to China to pay for a medical procedure. She was eventually allowed on the plane with the money.

Wang and Emory, who both told police they didn't know the names of their employees because they were hired by a "friend," were arrested on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and money laundering.

Police said the business' ledgers had no record of payment to employees, but customers would regularly tip the workers between $40 and $120 on top of the $60 fee for a massage.