By SUZANNE DOWNING
April 16, 2026 – Following a year-long investigation, a multi-agency law enforcement task force executed search warrants this week at seven suspected illicit massage parlors across Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals on sex trafficking charges.
The coordinated operation involved the Anchorage Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Anchorage Field Office, working alongside prosecutors and civil attorneys from the Alaska Department of Law. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges.
Investigators began developing the case after receiving leads that certain massage businesses were operating as fronts for organized criminal activity involving the commercial sexual exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Over several months, law enforcement gathered evidence that led to the execution of warrants at the following locations: Jasmine Spa, Zen Massage, Stream Health Spa of Wasilla, Phoenix Health Spa, Owl Health Spa, Renew Day Spa, and Red House Massage of Anchorage. Two Anchorage residences were also searched.
Those arrested include 72-year-old Anchorage resident Lee Van Ness; 34-year-old Anchorage resident Tuan Huynh; 54-year-old Wasilla resident Guoguo Zhang; 53-year-old Anchorage resident Terry Volkman; 40-year-old New York resident Xiong Xiaotian; 51-year-old New York resident Hong Zhen Li; and 44-year-old Hui Zhang. Charges range from sex trafficking in the second degree to sex trafficking in the third degree.
A review of the names suggests a mix of backgrounds among those charged. Names such as Zhang, Li, and Xiong are commonly of Chinese origin, while Huynh is a Vietnamese surname frequently found among individuals of Vietnamese descent. Authorities have not publicly released details about the citizenship or immigration status of those arrested.
All charges are being prosecuted by the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions.
In addition to making arrests, investigators worked to identify potential victims during the operation. Individuals believed to have been exploited were offered assistance, including access to support services through government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Officials emphasized that protecting victims and holding those responsible for exploitation accountable remains a top priority.
The operation drew support from multiple federal and local partners, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Army Criminal Investigation Division, the US Coast Guard, the Wasilla Police Department, and the Anchorage Airport Police Department.
Law enforcement officials say the investigation is ongoing and encourage anyone with information related to human trafficking to contact authorities.
13 thoughts on “Massage this: Seven arrested in Anchorage, Mat-Su sex trafficking linked to massage parlors”
Ha-Ha-Ha … there’s more perpetrator ‘chins’ than a Chyneeze phone book!!!
How many of these are serving your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant?
Welcome to the new world order … supplemental side hustles!
Maybe(?), your favorite Mayor & Assembly can tax it rather than property owners!
Funny how the only surnames you reference are of Asian ancestry. Volkman would be of Bavarian/German ancestry, and Van Ness most likely would suggest Netherlands ancestry.
Your statement is incorrect. Suzanne listed ALL those arrested by name. It is factually true that 5 out of 7 surnames are of Asian origin. If that however is the main point you took away from the story, maybe you should adjust your focus. Here we have a multi-agency effort to put exploiters and traffickers in our communities behind bars and prevent more victimization. I applaud that effort and do not care one wit, what ancestry the evil doers hail from.
“support through government agencies and nonprofit organizations” ???
Did Tampon Tim move his cash cow feedlot to Alaska?
Andy I believe victims of sex trafficking and exploitation should have our compassion and all the assistance they need. Helping actual victims isn’t fraud…..shame on you!
“Helping actual victims” by submitting false information IS fraud!
No shame here. Fraudulent claims of public assistance are rampant.
Ignoring fraud is shameful.
Maybe these nail salons need checked as well. Many of them can not have friends outside of work! 👀😳 check all the restraunts not owned by American Born US Citizens.
This is why I can’t trust to use any of the massage spas around town. Just one more thing that’s added on my list of there is nothing in Alaska because All the massage businesses look sketchy and ugly fronts. When it’s such a shame and disgrace to the massage therapy industry when weekly and monthly massages are good for mental, emotional, physical health.
I thought about trying Renewing Day Spa. Almost did too. But again it was my intuition plus reading its reviews I just thought I think the employees likely aren’t very smart and it’s a lot of money and most likely the workers aren’t serious about health nor the massage therapy profession like I feel about it. Such a disgrace to an industry with a poor reputation up here on Alaska when Alaskans overall health benefits, decrease of depression, longevity, And blood and oxygen circulatory systems would improve.
Hold-On … I’ve found the message therapy very beneficial at “Natural Health Center” on 34th Ave. You might give them a try as they’ll provide very professional services and a high likelyhood of resolving issues.
I’m proud to say….. that I was part of a generation that accomplished two items that has never been accomplished successfully before. The first is communism. New York and Los Anchorage are gonna show us how it’s done correctly this time.
The second, the oldest profession known to man. ( sarcasm) Both of these directly correlate with supply and demand theory.
Elvis, I guess I have not had enough morning coffee yet, so I can not tell whether or not you are being facetious here.
Communism is much older than you think and a French idea to boot. It has also never been successful, as it discounts human nature and individuality and has to rely on threats, coercion and manipulation to keep “the workers” loyal to the state. The communist system sets an arbitrary supply (much of which generally only exists on paper) and does not care one wit about demand. I suggest you read the commentary from New Yorkers’, who were attempting to shop at the “free pop-up store”, (ironically sponsored by crypto-based Polymarket) in February of this year. These patrons had to get a ticket to enter the store and were “guided” by an assistant. One of the residents was quoted “They told me that they ran out of tickets,” he said. “I couldn’t get no more food.… I couldn’t get access to the store.” Communism in a nutshell! Many went away empty handed.
Kara Hayden LMT
As a licensed massage therapist and business owner I really am disappointed how some people put everything into one category. It is appalling to have some people ask if there is a “happy ending ” after the massage. It is also scary that there are people out there yet, that would believe that becuse I am a massage therapist and work hard to heal patients from many horrible pains and conditions that I would be willing to perform ANY sexual act. Massage therapy is something completely different! It happens often, someone will text before booking an appointment on my website and ask me about “happy endings.”I have to angrilly explain that NEVER happens here and what they want is not a massage therapist, but a prostitue! I have even had them ask me then where can they find a prostitute! Amazing, but true, I have even put on my website, “This is not a fairy tale and there is never a happy ending.”
On the other side of this: I also do not care what ethnic group, country or religon these sex trafficers are. I hope each and everyone of them gets caught and locked up and put into a worse place than jail. I hope they get taken away from their friends and families and are treated exactly the same way these women were treated! How terifying it must be to be stolen, beaten and forced into that “trade,” scared to run and leave, possibly not even speaking the same language, humiliated and losing all sence of self esteem. I think this is the ugliest crime anyone could commit and I hate that it is associated with massage therapy.
Imagine, if you will, that this type of stigma was listed upon dentists, or doctors, or financial planning. Imagine you wanted to see how your 401K was doing, but worried you might be forced into sex to find out! Or you want to find out if that lump on your breast was nothing to worry about or if it was possibly cancer and needed to be removed, but you are scared to visit the doctor because he or she is in the medical proffession and therefore might indeed be a sex trafficer!
Guess what, licensed massage therapists are a part of the medical proffession also and no one should take their health care lightly or be afraid to go see a proffessional!
If you want to see a therapist where you will NEVER have a happy ending, a therapist who cares about your health and healing, a therapist who has an innate ability to find the root of the discomfort and work to have you feeling your ultimate best, you can find me by looking for Attitude Adjustment Massage LLC.
Oh, yeah, and I work out of my home because I do not yet have a lot of people working for me so I keep the overhead low, and I believe I truly have a big, beautiful massage room to work in. When I move to another work space, I might not be as fortunate.
Sincerely, Kara LMT
Wishing everyone a day filled with health, happiness, love, peace and prosperity!