FBI Busts Massive Prostitution Ring Stretching Across Upstate New York

The FBI has arrested a woman who, authorities say, is in the United States “illegally,” and charged her with running a prostitution ring in several spas from Ulster County to Saratoga County.

After a lengthy two-year investigation, the FBI has announced that they have taken down a massive prostitution ring involving spas stretching from Kingston, NY, to Upstate New York.

Upstate New York Prostitution Ring Shutdown

According to reports, an FBI task force has arrested Qingqin Xie, known as "Coco," and charged her with allegedly promoting and managing a prostitution enterprise in several spas from Ulster County to Saratoga County.

Xie, who authorities say is in the United States “illegally,” was arrested Wednesday after a nearly two-year investigation into alleged sex acts at various spas, including the Sun Spa in Waterford, the Moon Spa in Rotterdam, and the Moon Spa in East Greenbush, NY.

During its investigation, the FBI reported that federal agents began interviewing customers who were leaving various spas across upstate New York and learned that they allegedly admitted to paying from $160 to $240 for sex acts in the spas.

SEE ALSO: Two Charged With 37 Counts of Animal Cruelty In Upstate New York

Following her arrest, Xie was interviewed at a local State Police barracks and allegedly admitted that she “opens spas and sells them to others,” and that she had placed sexually charged online advertisements soliciting customers, according to the Times Union.

Spas Targeted in Prostitution Investigation

According to court documents, the FBI targeted the following businesses during its investigation:

• Best Health Spa on Watervliet Avenue in Albany, NY
• Sun Spa on Broad Street in Waterford, NY
• Moon Spa on Hamburg Street in Rotterdam, NY
• Everyday Health Center on Central Avenue in Colonie, NY
• An unnamed location in Kingston, NY

Xie was arraigned on Wednesday and is being held in federal custody until a detention hearing scheduled for later this week.