A New York man was arrested last week at a Portland massage parlor on charges of criminal threatening and aggravated sex trafficking.
According to the Portland Police Department’s arrest log, 45-year-old Changsheng Xiao of Flushing, N.Y., was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, April 26, on Forest Avenue in Portland.
Xiao was transported to the Cumberland County Jail and charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and aggravated sex trafficking.
Under Maine law, aggravated sex trafficking is when a person knowingly compels a person to enter into, engage in or remain in prostitution, promotes the prostitution of a minor aged 15 through 17, or promotes the prostitution of a person who suffers from a mental disability.
As set forth in statute, “compelling” may refer to various ways of coercing a person into prostitution, including the use of drugs or alcohol, the use of physical force on the person or their property, or requiring prostitution as a means to pay an actual or purported debt, as well as withholding or destroying a person’s immigration documents or other identification to impede freedom of movement.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office recorded that the arrest occurred at 977 Forest Ave in Portland, and that Xiao was booked at the Cumberland County Jail shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 27.
Located at 977 Forest Ave is Ping Wellness Center, a massage parlor in Portland’s North Deering neighborhood that conducts reflexology, massage therapy, facials, waxing, and “tui na,” a traditional Chinese massage technique.
According to public records from the Maine Bureau of Corporations, the business at 977 Forest Ave is registered under the name “Oriental Wellness Center LLC,” and classified as a spa service. Xiao registered it in April 2019.
On Yelp, Ping Wellness Center has an average 3.2 star rating, with several reviews complaining about a language barrier with employees, employees demanding tips and poor massage quality.
Below are a selection of reviews taken from Ping Wellness Center’s Yelp page:
- “5 months ago I stopped into Ping as a walk in customer with a knot in my right shoulder. A mid 60s sex worker posing as a massage therapist proceeded to stomp all over my back separating my first, second and third ribs. 20 minutes into the “massage” when she pulled off my boxers and instructed me to roll over I ended the session and left. It was about a day later that the excruciating pain set in in my shoulder and arm…[…]…A friend recently told me I should sue them. Not really my style but I thought I’d write this review in hopes that more people won’t be injured at this place. They need to be shut down.”
- “Came in for basic 1 hour massage. The massage was sub par. The woman doing it kept leaving room. It was annoying. When I was leaving I gave her $ 10. For a tip and she started shaking her head and said ‘no ….$20 ok 10 not.’ I turned around and left. I wish I could speak Chinese because I really would enjoy explaining how tips work. Will not be going back.”
- “Let me preface by saying that I am not snooty about massage parlors. In fact, my boyfriend have been on a seedy-Asian-massage-tour-of-America for quite some time now. Thus, this poor rating comes from bad practices of the establishment, not some uppity attitude on my end. This was a truly horrific experience, and I wouldn’t even return here if someone paid me.”
Several reviews on Google for Ping Wellness Center describe a similar customer experience:
- “Would give 0 stars. The guy who did my gfs massage had his hands in his pants during massage and asked if she was in high school. You have to pay and tip before the service. Run down.”
- “I would not recommend this massage place. They started 15 minutes late, went in and out of the room to greet customers, harassed me for a tip, she wore rubber gloves, the language barrier caused confusion, they used very cheap products that smelled bad, and caused a lot of pain in my back. Not enjoyable at all.”
- “Visit at your own risk. They have you pay prior to receiving your massage which was mediocre at best and demand tips upon leaving when typically a gratuity envelop is left in the room. When giving them a tip for a pretty low scale massage they aren’t satisfied with what you give them and demand more money…”
