Germantown Man Charged With Human Trafficking, Pimping

A Germantown man has been charged with human trafficking and conducting prostitution, after a long investigation of alleged brothels fronted by acupressure and massage parlors, Montgomery County Police Department said in a press release Friday.

Howard Hao Wang, of the 19100 block of Forest Brook Road, is one of four county business operators facing charges, the release states.

, and Roberto Carrasco, 47, of the 1500 block of North Pierce St., Arlington, Va., was charged with conducting prostitution. An arrest warrant was issued for Mauricio Alex Garcia Guardia,  31, of the 14000 block of Westbury Drive in Rockville, on charges of  conducting prostitution and human trafficking, according to Montgomery County Police.

Wang, 48, is the business operator of Tropical Spa, 620 Hungerford Drive, in Rockville, and Best Massage, 966 Hungerford Dr, Suite 11A, Rockville — two of six parlors under investigation, according to the release.

Police alleged that the business owners were like “pimps” and attempted to place distance between themselves and the business operations "in order to be immune from criminal accountability," according to the release. But investigators determined the businesses were illegitimate and alleged the bogus shops were for human trafficking schemes, “exploiting the most vulnerable women as tools for profit," the press release states.

Police said they were tipped off by an increase in the number of acupressure and massage parlor ads on websites that cater to adult services. Police also received numerous complaints.

Four other businesses under investigation include:

• The Pink Spa,932 Hungerford Drive, Suite 14A, Rockville
• Executive Bodywork, 966 Hungerford Drive, Suite 14A, Rockville
• Wa Wa Spa, 5858 Hubbard Drive, Rockville
• Ya Ya Spa, 751 Rockville Pike, Suite 1B, Rockville

Montgomery County Police have asked anyone with information to call the Montgomery County Special Investigations
Division-Vice and Intelligence Unit at 240-773-5958.