Pimps, johns and victims nabbed at seedy Iowa massage parlors

IOWA CITY – Possible pimps, prostitutes, human traffickers and johns were all snared in an operation that cops say rarely allowed the workers out of the sight of the alleged masterminds who made big money running their operations from seedy Iowa massage parlors.

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Iowa City Police Department made three arrests following a human trafficking investigation involving two massage parlors. The arrests were the culmination of a joint operation involving ICPD and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) – Operation Safe Passage.

The investigation found Zhenshi Liu, 60; and Junping Ren, 56; both of Iowa City, operated two massage parlors in Iowa City:

• Paradise Spa, 1901 Broadway St., Suite 2
• Paradise Spa, 805 S. First Ave., Suite 3

Zhenshi Liu and Junping Ren employed numerous female workers inside the massage parlors. Interviews with numerous male clients of the parlors found the female workers – who were required to work more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week – provided sex acts to the clients. Zhenshi Liu and Junping Ren are also accused of providing sex acts to clients.

During the investigative period, a sexual assault in which Zhenshi Liu allegedly sexually assaulted a customer against their will was also reported.

In addition, Zhenshi Liu and Junping Ren are accused of laundering $2.6 million in cash proceeds obtained from their operation through the purchase of two residential properties. The couple’s son, Yang Liu, 33, of Hoover, Ala., is accused of assisting in laundering $1.5 million through his personal accounts.

As a result of this operation, all three individuals have been arrested and face the following charges:

Junping Ren, 56, of Iowa City

Ongoing Criminal Conduct
Money Laundering
Pandering for Prostitution
Pimping
Prostitution

According to a police arrest report:

In the above time frame, the defendant (Junping Ren) owned and operated two illicit massage businesses in Iowa CIty, Paradise Spa locations at 1901 Broadway St. Suite 2, Iowa City, IA and 805 S 1st Ave Suite 3, Iowa City, IA. During this time period, the defendant has had numerous female workers inside the business. During interviews these workers stated they receive $70 per/hour massage, $40 goes to the defendant, and $10 is paid for “room and board.” The female workers work 7 days a week, 9:00am-10:30pm. The female workers have never been observed by investigators outside the businesses in public. During the investigation numerous males were interviewed after leaving the Spas. These individuals admitted to receiving sex acts, from workers, including the defendant, in violation of Chapter 725 of the Iowa Code. Others reported being offered sex acts for extra money during their massages. During the investigative period a sexual assault was reported to have occurred at 1901 Broadway Suite 2 location, where co-defendnat (Zhenshi Liu) sexually assaulted a customer. The def has had several other massage parlors in Iowa. Ads for her business were located on SkiptheGames.com which is a known website for female escort services.

Zhenshi Liu, 60, of Iowa City

Ongoing Criminal Conduct
Money Laundering
Third-degree Sexual Abuse
Pimping
Pandering for Prostitution
Prostitution

According to a police arrest report:

In the above time frame, the defendant and his wife Junping Ren owned and operated two illicit massage businesses in Iowa CIty, Paradise Spa locations at 1901 Broadway St. Suite 2, Iowa City, IA and 805 S 1st Ave Suite 3, Iowa City, IA. During this time period, the defendant has had numerous female workers inside the business. During interviews these workers stated they receive $70 per/hour massage, $40 goes to the defendant, and $10 is paid for “room and board.” The female workers work 7 days a week, 9:00am-10:30pm. The female workers have never been observed by investigators outside the businesses in public. During the investigation numerous males were interviewed after leaving the Spas. These individuals admitted to receiving sex acts, from workers, including the defendant’s wife, in violation of Chapter 725 of the Iowa Code. Others reported being offered sex acts for extra money during their massages. During the investigative period a sexual assault was reported to have occurred at 1901 Broadway Suite 2 location, where the defendant sexually assaulted a customer. The defendant and co-defendant has had several other massage parlors in Iowa. Ads for her business were located on SkiptheGames.com which is a known website for female escort services.

Yang Liu, 33, Hoover, Ala.

Ongoing Criminal Conduct
Money Laundering

According to a police arrest report:

In the above time frame, the defendant’s parents owned and operated two illicit massage businesses in Iowa CIty, Paradise Spa locations at 1901 Broadway St. Suite 2, Iowa City, IA and 805 S. 1st Ave Suite 3, Iowa City, IA. During this time period, the co-defendants have had numerous female workers inside the business. During interviews these workers stated they receive $70 per/hour massage, $40 goes to a co-defendant, Junping Ren, and $10 is paid for “room and board.” The female workers work 7 days a week, 9:00am-10:30pm. The female workers have never been observed by investigators outside the businesses in public. During the investigation numerous males were interviewed after leaving the Spas. These individuals admitted to receiving sex acts, from workers and co-defendants, in violation of Chapter 725 of the Iowa Code. Others reported being offered sex acts for extra money during their massages. During the investigative period a sexual assault was reported to have occurred at 1901 Broadway Suite 2 location, where codefendant (Zhenshi Liu) sexually assaulted a customer against their will. The defendant directly participates in the operation of the Paradise Spa located at 801 S 1st Ave Suite 3, including paying the store front rent out of his personal account. The defendant receives proceeds from specified unlawful activity into his account, and used said proceeds to aid in the purchase of two residential properties $941,342.01 one of which he and his wife currently reside in. The defendant assisted in the laundering of the proceeds of both spas through his personal financial accounts, approximately $1.5 million U.S. Dollars.

ICPD and DCI were assisted in serving multiple warrants in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids by the Johnson County Joint Emergency Communication Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Cedar Rapids Police Department Des Moines Police Department, University of Iowa Police Department, Coralville Police Department, Altoona Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office. Local advocacy agencies were also used to provide assistance and will continue to work with the victims in this investigation.

The Johnson County Attorney’s Office assisted throughout the investigation. Pending initial appearances, all three defendants were held on cash or surety bonds in the amount of $125,000, and still await future court dates.