Hudson Valley Spouses Ran Sophisticated Prostitution Ring

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A Putnam County couple will serve federal time after watching their prostitution empire crumble.

Edward Y. Kim, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on Friday that Hong Ru Lin, a/k/a "Bruce," and Kena Zhao, a/k/a "Angela," were each sentenced to prison for violating the Travel Act by operating prostitution businesses at several massage parlors in Putnam, Westchester, New York, and Queens counties.

Zhao was sentenced last week to one year and one day in prison, while Lin was sentenced on Friday to one year and one day in prison as well. The Putnam Valley couple also forfeited over $1.3 million representing proceeds from their prostitution scheme.

"Hong Ru Lin and Kena Zhao operated an extensive prostitution business, using massage parlors as cover for their illegal activities," Kim said. "Today's sentences hold them accountable for their actions. This Office will continue to investigate those who sponsor illegal prostitution, even if their criminal activities take place behind the closed doors of supposedly legitimate businesses."

SEE ALSO: Putnam County Couple Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring

According to court filings, between September 2020 and September 2023, Lin and Zhao operated a prostitution business out of massage parlors that they owned in Putnam, Westchester, New York and Queens counties. The couple managed a roster of women who worked at the massage parlors and performed sexual acts for customers.

Lin and Zhao communicated by cellphone and a private chatroom to manage and operate their prostitution business. They also used cellphones to communicate with potential customers, assign employees to customers, monitor the income of the prostitution business, and set performance goals for the women who worked in the massage parlors.

On at least one occasion, Zhao participated in a massage during which a sexual act was offered to a customer.

In addition to prison, 51-year-old Lin and 46-year-old Zhao were both sentenced to two years of supervised release and agreed to forfeit the massage parlors' bank accounts, assets and cash proceeds, along with a $1.3 million money judgment.

Kim praised the work of the FBI's Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. He also thanked the Town of Carmel Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, and the Yonkers Police Department for their assistance.