Hunter
10/09/25
The son of a couple who reportedly were operating two massage parlors in the area that offered sex acts to clients has been charged for his role in the operation.
Court documents indicate 60-year-old Zhenshi Liu and 56-year-old Junping Ren…who own the two massage parlors and live above the Broadway Street location…are both charged with Pimping, Prostitution, Pandering for Prostitution, Money Laundering, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.
Investigators say they interviewed customers who were leaving the two locations who told them they had received sex acts from workers, including Ren, or the workers had made offers to perform sex acts during massages for more money. Workers claimed they worked 13 ½ hour days, seven days a week, earning $70 an hour. But they also claimed $40 of that money went back to Liu and Ren and another $10 was allotted for room and board.
Liu and Ren allegedly promoted the spas on web sites used for human trafficking. Investigators say they laundered approximately $2.6 million between 2020 and last July. The couple’s son, 33-year-old Yang Liu of Hoover, Ala., is accused of assisting in laundering $1.5 million through his personal accounts. He’s charged with Money Laundering. .
Iowa City Police now say the couple’s son, 33-year-old Yang Liu also directly participated in the operation of the Paradise Spa on 1st Avenue, including paying the storefront rent out of his personal account. He also allegedly used proceeds to purchase two residential properties costing over $941,000, one of which Liu and his wife currently reside in. He also is accused of assisting in laundering $1.5 million from the business through his personal accounts.
A warrant was issued for Liu’s arrest September 17th; he was booked at the Johnson County Jail Wednesday evening.
Liu faces one count each of Money Laundering and Ongoing Criminal Conduct-Influence Enterprise. If convicted on both charges, Liu faces up to 35 years in prison.