Toilet Pipe Clogged by Condoms Leads Austin Police to Prostitution Ring

Hundreds of used condoms clogged and destroyed a sewage pipe, exposing a prostitution ring operating out of an Austin massage parlor, according to court records.Other tenants at the building had already been suspicious that sex was for sale at Jade Massage Therapy LLC, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The condoms — likely flushed after use — were found in an industrial disposal unit that connected the property to Austin's sewer system.The condoms were just one clue that helped police discover the sex ring, said Sgt. Kevin Covington with the Austin police Human Trafficking and Vice Unit. But it's the tip that got his attention."I was like, 'you've got to be kidding me,' " he said. "It's not the normal tip you would get, or lead you would get on a place committing criminal activity, but it happened, so that helped us out."Police later discovered that a number tied to the business was used to advertise for sexual services for another location known as "Jade Massage."While serving a search warrant March 22 at the second location, police found two women and a naked man. One of the women was Juan Wang, who owns the business with her husband, Joseph Emory.Court records show Wang and Emory face charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and money laundering. The Statesman reported that neither was in custody Tuesday at the Travis County Jail.In February, Wang was stopped by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport security with $30,000. She said the money was for a medical procedure, and she was allowed to fly to China after giving police her phone number.It was that phone number police connected to the sexual service ads.  Continue reading...