QUINCY, Mass. - Boston 25 News was on the scene as agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Massachusetts State Police troopers conducted an investigation Thursday morning at a home in Quincy.
FBI spokeswoman Kristen Setera told Boston 25 News that the search was in connection with an ongoing state investigation at the North Central Avenue home. It was described as a joint operation by the FBI and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office.
It resulted in five arrests, all in connection with trafficking women for sex at brothels in Boston and surrounding suburbs -- specifically, Cambridge, North Reading and Quincy.
Those arrested are: Pingxia Fan, 40, of Boston; Timothy Hayes, 50, of Gloucester; Simon Shimao Lin, 59, of Boston; Robert Mozer, 65, of Deerfield, N.H.; and Biqun Xiao, 47, of Deerfield, N.H.
In arraignments Thursday, all defendants pleaded not guilt and in addition to bail were ordered to surrender passport; GPS monitoring; stay away from victims, co-defendants and buyers; and no internet use.
Fan, Hayes and Lin were each charged with single counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Deriving Support from Prostitution, Money Laundering, Keeping House of Ill Fame and Conspiracy. Mozer and Xiao were charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude.
The Patriot Ledger earlier reported that the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force was at the home assisting with the investigation.
Boston 25's Daniel Miller said he observed FBI agents and state troopers continuously enter the home looking for evidence. He said children's toys were on a porch of the home, and it appeared as though the front door was forced open, presumably by FBI agents and/or state troopers.
Fan and Lin were arrested Thursday morning in Boston. Hayes was arrested in Gloucester. Mozer and Xiao were arrested in Quincy.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Cox Media Group
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