February 13, 2017
Sheriff Brian C. Hawthorne reports that on February 9, Detectives with the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, arrested three women at Donah’s Massage Therapy, 46328 I10 east in Winnie, Texas, and placed them in the Chambers County Jail.
Song Ja Hyun, a 59 year old Asian female of Flushing NY was charged with prostitution, a Misdemeanor B with a $5000 bond. Shunyu Quan, a 53 year old Asian female of Flushing NY, was charged with prostitution, a Misdemeanor B with a $5000 bond. Ying Yu Jin, a 53 year old Asian female of Anahuac, was charged with prostitution, a misdemeanor B with a $5000 bond and Aggravated Promotion of prostitution, Felony 3 with a $25000 bond. Hyun and Jin are still in the Chambers County Jail on Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers.
On February 11, Detectives arrested Jim Retligge Cotton, age 56, of Anahuac on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Felony 3 with a $25000 bond and Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution, Felony 3 with a $25000 bond. A search warrant was executed at Jim Cotton’s home and over $41000 was seized along with computers and other business documents related to the massage parlors.
The Chambers County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after a robbery in March of 2016 at Jinha’s Body Works Massage in Anahuac culminating in the closure of the business. An undercover investigation was launched in December of 2016 after Chambers County Sheriff’s Office deputies identified a similar business in Winnie, Donah’s Massage Therapy. Detectives identified Cotton and Jin as the same massage parlor owner and operators of both businesses.
In January of 2017 Sheriff Hawthorne requested help from Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset to provide undercover investigators. On multiple occasions undercover investigators posed as customers to document the illegal activity suspected by Sheriff Hawthorne.
“I greatly appreciate the working relationship and resources the Galveston County Sheriff and Homeland Security Investigations have provided throughout this undercover investigation”, said Sheriff Hawthorne.