Couple sued for allegedly forcing 2 into prostitution

Operatives arrested a business couple operating a massage parlor and nightclub on Saipan for allegedly recruiting two women from the Philippines and forcing them to have sex with several customers.

Arrested were 50-year-old Edward Frank Cabrera, also known as Edward C. Cabrera, and 37-year-old Xiuhong Luo, also known as Jenny. The defendants reportedly operate the Red Heart Massage and the Mayi Club on Saipan.

The Attorney General’s Investigative Unit charged the couple with conspiracy to promote prostitution, promoting prostitution, permitting prostitution and unlawful acts.

In a hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman set bail at $25,000 each for the defendants.

The charging document mentioned no work permits for the victims, who were allegedly promised three-month jobs by Cabrera in the Philippines, possibly under tourist status. Cabrera’s recruiter in the Philippines, a certain Arnell, allegedly promised the women monthly salaries of $400.

The AGIU said the recruiter told one of the victims that she would work at Cabrera’s nightclub to assist customers and get them to buy “ladies’ drinks” and that she could also make extra money by having sex with customers only if she wanted to. That victim accepted the job offer but said that she only wanted to receive the $400 monthly salary and not engage in prostitution.

The recruiter allegedly offered the other victim work as masseuse but that she would also sit down with customers and get them to buy ladies’ drinks. Cabrera allegedly told the woman that she would get paid $400 monthly.

Cabrera accompanied the two women to Saipan, where they arrived last Sept. 9. Jenny, who introduced herself as Cabrera’s wife, picked them up at the airport in a taxicab with the name “Ed Cabrera” on the side, the AGIU said.

The AGIU said Jenny brought the women to their rooms. Jenny then allegedly gave them a box of condoms and pills. Three hours later, Jenny allegedly made one of the women take the pill, making that victim dizzy. Jenny then instructed the victim to massage a customer, and later to have sex with the man.

“[The victim did not refuse Jenny’s request because she was scared. Jenny further told [the victim] that if she did not have sex with the customer, then [she] would not get paid,” the AGIU said.

The AGIU said the victim began to cry while having sex with the man. Jenny allegedly told the victim that she would get $15 from the $100 paid by the customer. Another customer arrived about an hour later, it added.

That victim claimed that she had sex with some 15 male customers since she arrived on Saipan. The other victim had resisted some customers’ sexual advances, but she was forced to have sex with one on single occasion, making her cry. The victims said Jenny only wanted them to have sex with Bangladeshi and Chinese customers—not Filipinos or Chamorros.

The victims managed to ran away from the defendants on Sept. 18, after which they reported the incident to authorities.