Woman Charged With Attempted Sex Trafficking in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 31, 2023, Yanbin Bao and Richard Bushey were both charged with three counts of felony promoting prostitution - victim of human trafficking, and three counts of felony trafficking of persons. They were running illegal commercial sex operations out of Soul Massage located at 5000 Highway 93 South. 

On May 30, 2023, an individual was at the massage parlor cleaning up the property and was approached by an Asian female driving a maroon Mazda bearing a New York license plate. This female asked the individual if she could take over the lease on the massage parlor business and continue operating the business while paying the individual more money.  

On June 6, 2023, a Missoula County Sherriff’s Office deputy located the maroon Mazda at the Sleep Inn hotel in Missoula. The female driver was identified as 55-year-old Hui Wang. The deputy learned that Wang had a felony full extradition warrant for “impersonation of a licensed professional” and “advertisement online offering sexual services along with illegal massages and conducting outcalls to different locations.”  

Prostitution Advertisements in Missoula

Hang was arrested on the warrant and found to be in possession of four cellular phones, $49 in U.S. currency, and one condom. A Missoula County Sheriff’s Office detective located a series of prostitution advertisements placed in Missoula, online. The advertisements included a phone number associated with the Flushing/Bronx New York area, similar to where the registered owner of the Mazda resided. The detective called the number listed in the advertisements. The phone that was found in Wang’s possession rang as the detective was calling the number.  

Also found in Wang’s possession was a hotel key for a room at the Sleep Inn. The hotel room was later searched pursuant to a warrant. Condoms, sexual devices, and additional personal electronics were located inside the hotel indicating Wang was engaged in prostitution while in Missoula. No one else was in the hotel room and there was no indication that any other person was residing in the hotel room aside from Wang. 

Wang was seen exiting the Mazda when the deputy encountered her. The detective received information that the Mazda was caught on a license plate reader northbound on Interstate 94 at the Indiana/Illinois border, indicating that the occupant(s) of this vehicle traveled from another state into the state of Montana for the purpose of their illicit massage and prostitution enterprise. The detective is aware of the investigation in Tennessee involving Wang’s involvement in an illicit massage parlor. In the Mazda, pursuant to a search warrant, the detective found $1,510 in U.S. currency and two bags of unused condoms. 

Suspect is Connected to Soul Massage

Jane Doe from the Bao and Bushey case confirmed that Wang worked at Soul Massage with Doe. Doe stated that Wang provided sexual services for compensation while at Soul Massage. Doe confirmed that Wang and another woman were in Missoula seeking a location to open a new massage parlor for illicit sexual massages.  

Wang is currently being charged with felony attempted sex trafficking. This case was filed directly into District Court. Because Wang has no known contacts in Missoula, Montana, appears to be a Chinese foreign national, and law enforcement believes there are unknown co-conspirators at large, the State requested that a warrant be issued, and bail be set in the amount of $150,000. Wang is currently in custody at the Missoula County Detention Facility. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.