BIRMINGHAM  – A federal grand jury today indicted an eastern Birmingham massage parlor, its owner and an employee on charges related to the human trafficking of women working there as prostitutes, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance in conjunction with the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Birmingham Police Department.

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges YOSHIKO LLC; SEUNG HEE LEE, 38, owner of the Parkway East business; and OI SUN ENSLEY, 42, an employee, with three counts of enticing an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; three counts of harboring an illegal alien for private financial gain; and three counts of failing to file a factual statement about an alien.

According to the Indictment, between Aug. 17, 2008, and Aug. 17, 2010, YOSHIKO, LEE and ENSLEY persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced three adult women to travel in interstate and foreign commerce to engage in prostitution.  In addition, the defendants harbored the three adult women, who were illegal aliens, in a place of prostitution and for private financial gain.

“Human trafficking for the purposes of prostitution is a deplorable crime that amounts to modern day slavery,” Vance said. “Those who prey on individuals in desperate financial or life circumstances for personal profit must be prosecuted.”
           
The case was investigated by the Birmingham Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Fortune is prosecuting the case.
                       
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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