For Immediate Release
Iowa City Police Make Three Arrests Following Multi-Agency Human Trafficking Operation
September 24, 2025 (JOHNSON COUNTY, IA) – On Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, the Iowa City Police Department made three arrests following a human trafficking investigation involving two massage parlors. The arrests were the culmination of a joint operation involving ICPD and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) - Operation Safe Passage.
The investigation found Zhenshi Liu, 60; and Junping Ren, 56; both of Iowa City, operated two massage parlors in Iowa City:
Paradise Spa, 1901 Broadway St., Suite 2
Paradise Spa, 805 S. First Ave., Suite 3
Zhenshi Liu and Junping Ren employed numerous female workers inside the massage parlors. Interviews with numerous male clients of the parlors found the female workers - who were required to work more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week - provided sex acts to the clients. Zhenshi Liu and Junping Ren are also accused of providing sex acts to clients.
During the investigative period, a sexual assault in which Zhenshi Liu allegedly sexually assaulted a customer against their will was also reported.
In addition, Zhenshi Liu and Junping Ren are accused of laundering $2.6 million in cash proceeds obtained from their operation through the purchase of two residential properties. The couple's son, Yang Liu, 33, of Hoover, Ala., is accused of assisting in laundering $1.5 million through his personal accounts.
As a result of this operation, all three individuals have been arrested and face the following charges:
Junping Ren, 56, of Iowa City
Zhenshi Liu, 60, of Iowa City
Yang Liu, 33, Hoover, Ala.
ICPD and DCI were assisted in serving multiple warrants in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids by the Johnson County Joint Emergency Communication Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Des Moines Police Department, University of Iowa Police Department, Coralville Police Department, Altoona Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Wapello County Sheriff's Office. Local advocacy agencies were also used to provide assistance and will continue to work with the victims in this investigation.
The Johnson County Attorney's Office assisted throughout the investigation. Pending initial appearances, all three defendants will each be held on cash or surety bonds in the amount of $125,000.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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