Two women were arrested last week in Lawrence on prostitution charges and money and possessions worth more than $27,000 seized, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Two women were arrested last week in Lawrence on prostitution charges and money and possessions worth more than $27,000 seized, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. and Lawrence Township Police Chief Daniel A. Posluszny announced that the Mercer County Special Investigations Unit (SIU) concluded a two-month undercover investigation with the execution of search warrants at two locations in Lawrence.
Bocchini stated that during the course of investigation, undercover officers were solicited for sex by women working at 88 Lakedale Drive in Lawrence. On Thursday, Nov. 7, officers arrested the manager of the house, Yuzhu Zhou.
Officers seized $274, ledgers and notes. A 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser was also seized from the location as proceeds from prostitution.
Officers also executed search warrants at Zhou’s residence on Dogwood Drive in Lawrence. A safe containing $26,470 was located in a bedroom closet. An additional $250 in cash, notes, ledgers, a laptop computer, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a dirt bike were also seized. A 2009 Lexus RX3 was also seized from the location as proceeds from prostitution.
Officers with the prosecutor’s office, the county sheriff’s office, the Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence and Trenton police departments, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation and made the arrests.
Ms. Zhou, 55, of Lawrence, was charged with three counts of third-degree maintaining a house of prostitution and one count of operating a sexually orientated business, a fourth-degree offense. She is free on $60,000 bail.
Sha Liu, 32, of Flushing, N.Y., was also arrested at 88 Lakedale Drive for allegedly propositioning an officer. She was charged with engaging in prostitution, a disorderly person offense, and released pending court proceedings.