A total of 11 men are now facing charges of engaging a person for prostitution following a December raid on a massage parlor in Rockland, police announced on Monday.
Rockland Police say they received a tip in late July 2024 from law enforcement in Lincoln County regarding an investigation into sexual acts that were being done in exchange for money at a local massage parlor.
[RELATED: Police, Border Patrol Raid Asian Massage Parlor in Rockland...]
The parlor in question, “Asian Massage,” had recently moved from Waldoboro to a location in Rockland at 193 Park St.
Police say their investigation into the massage parlor led to the discovery of ties between the establishment and “organized crime and human trafficking out of New York.”
State records show that the Waldoboro and Rockland “Asian Massage” parlors were registered as LLCs by an individual named Tao Tian, who also appears to have been the registered agent for other massage locations around the state, including “Nirvana Spa Inc.” at 10 Foch St. in Lewiston.
Rockland Police coordinated with federal law enforcement for a December 2024 raid on the “Asian Massage” property in Rockland, during which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles could be observed parked in front of the building.
During the search, multiple individuals were interviewed, and authorities seized physical and electronic evidence, some of which is still being processed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), police said.
According to Rockland Police, the “Asian Massage” establishment in Rockland is no longer active, but investigators believe there are several suspected active locations throughout the state.
Charged for engaging a person for prostitution in connection to the Rockland massage parlor were the following:
- Richard Generazio, 64, of Owls Head;
- Christopher Mitchell, 41, of Lincolnville;
- Christopher Felicetti, 62, of Washington;
- Bruce Liljegren, 78, of Thomaston;
- Randy Bouchard, 62, of South Thomaston;
- Michael Graves, 65, of Rockport;
- William Heiden, 39, of Rockland;
- Joseph Cady, 50, of Palermo;
- Mark Strong, 69, of Thomaston;
- Neal Shepard, 71, of Cushing;
- Stanley Carlton, 65, of Owls Head.
Police say their investigation remains active and that additional criminal charges are expected.
The raid on Rockland’s “Asian Massage” was the latest in a series of massage parlors in Maine being raided by law enforcement over the past year due to suspected sex trafficking and forced labor.
In September, 58-year-old Richard Qiu of Brooklyn, N.Y., owner of multiple massage parlors throughout Maine, was arrested by Lewiston Police and charged with two counts of sex trafficking (Class D and Class E), forced labor and criminal forfeiture
[RELATED: Owner of Several Maine Massage Parlors Charged with Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor…]
Police said they found video recording equipment, condoms and over $12,000 cash in suspected sex trafficking proceeds at a parlor in Lewiston owned by Qiu.
In May of this year, 45-year-old Changsheng Xiao, also of N.Y., was arrested in Portland at his massage parlor location on Forest Avenue and was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and aggravated sex trafficking.
According to court records obtained by the Maine Wire, Xiao is alleged to have threatened an elderly woman with a handgun as part of his sex trafficking operation.
Although neither the Rockland PD nor federal law enforcement have indicated that the illicit massage parlors are connected to Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations known to be illegally growing and trafficking cannabis in Maine, Chinese language job boards used by some massage parlor operators to recruit workers from New York and Massachusetts often have ads for masseuses alongside ads for “green house” workers.
i wonder who the cops let get off on getting charges…. wonder how many of those dudes they charged are single now? the democrat in me says the “jons are victims too”
I think it’s kind of sad to publish the names of all the johns, but then we can’t learn the names of these Lewiston Gang Banger kids who are shooting the place up .
Where is the justice ?
The chinks who run these places need to be sent home too . More trash in Maine .
What has the Portland government don about it?
Janet’s friends taking complete advantage of the blue lawlessness.
Hope the Wire keeps us updated on the progress of all involved.
It would let us know how the governor can not say “I did not know:”
These same DEMOCRATES have lost over 300,000 illegal children.
What will they come up with next?
Call ICE to deport the prostitutes. The Knox Co. DA is a far left progressive.
I question Mr Tomic’s judgement in publishing the names of the men charged with “ engaging a person for prostitution “ …..possibly ruining their reputations and lives .
Fifty years ago in Maine ( likely before Mr Tomic was born ) you WOULD get sent to state prison for possession of an ounce of pot.
Today pot is a celebrated tax source in Maine and twenty times more powerful and dangerous . The Chinese sell a poisoned crop to the unsuspecting .
Prostitution is legal in many states . “ What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas “
I know absolutely nothing about these people who have been charged , but I am certain the punishment they will face from their own communities will be far more harsh than those faced by the illegal Chinese aliens who provided the sex service in the first place .
Remember when the client list for the Zumba madam was released? Now retired far left columnist for the Portland Press Herald Bill “Nemesis” Nemitz was so hoping to find Lepage’s name.
For some of those guys, the lack of Viagra on site should “get them off”.
Neil Shepard
I bought several cars at Shepard Toyota and now I’m thoroughly disgusted by this lowlife, Shepard who chose to ruin his family’s reputation as well as as his businesses reputation because he couldn’t keep it in his pants. What are you – 7 years old??? I hope your wife leaves you, scumbag.