Women face prostitution charges following arrests at Scranton massage parlor - Yahoo! Voices

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An undercover law enforcement investigation into suspected prostitution activities led to the arrests of two women at Harmony Spa on Sanderson Avenue in Scranton.

City resident So Yun Hwang, 69, faces felony and misdemeanor counts of promoting prostitution following her arrest Thursday. Qiuyu Woo, 67, who told investigators she was visiting Scranton from Flushing, New York, and identified Hwang as her employer, faces misdemeanor prostitution counts.

The charges stem from an investigation by members of the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit and Lackawanna County detectives who’d received information about suspicious operations at Harmony Spa, 1825 Sanderson Ave. Investigators also identified the business through a listing on a website frequently used to advertise prostitution services, they wrote in charging documents.


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An undercover officer posing as a customer contacted a woman who’d posted an advertisement on the website and ultimately agreed to provide services. The undercover officer was equipped with a recording device when, upon arrival, they were met by Woo and escorted into a room where Woo “agreed to provide both a massage and sexual services in exchange for $40,” charging documents note.

Woo accepted the money and left the room before returning and beginning the massage. Investigators detained Woo and Hwang, who emerged from a separate room, upon entering the business.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Woo told investigators she typically sees around three customers per day and performs sexual services for one or two of them, adding that she earns approximately $10 per appointment. She also said Hwang was aware of the sex acts being performed.

Hwang initially claimed to be a cleaner but eventually admitted to managing the establishment, police said. At first she denied giving massages before ultimately confessing to doing so, though she told police “they were only for female clients,” the affidavit notes.


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In the room where Hwang was initially located, investigators found a New York City bus schedule posted on the wall. A “significant quantity of food” was stored in a closet. Investigators also found an iPhone, a security camera hard drive and various quantities of cash totaling more than $7,700 during their search.

Hwang faces two felony counts of promoting prostitution, a misdemeanor count of promoting prostitution and related misdemeanor charges. Woo faces one misdemeanor count each of promoting prostitution, possessing an instrument of crime and criminal conspiracy.

Both remain in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail and await a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for Dec. 27.