2 women arrested on charges of operating a brothel in Dallas

DALLAS — As part of an ongoing investigation into sex trafficking in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Metroplex, on Aug. 26, members of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force arrested two women on federal charges outlined in a just-unsealed superseding indictment, returned by a grand jury last week, related to their operation of the Doll House massage parlor in Dallas.

These arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.  The following agencies are investigating this case:  Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Dallas Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; all are members of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force.

During Friday’s operation, defendant Connie Su Moser, aka “Vivian” and “Song Ye Hong,” 63, was arrested at her home in Lewisville, Texas.  Defendant Kum Shugars, 67, was arrested at the Doll House.  Moser is the owner of the Doll House; Shugars is one of the managers.  In addition to the arrests, the Task Force seized about $420,000 from Moser’s home, about $70,000 in her bank accounts, and her 2015 Lexus automobile.  Moser and Shugars made their initial appearance in federal court Aug. 29.  Moser was detained, and Shugars has a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney Sept. 1.

The other defendant charged in this case, Allen Nash, aka “A-1,” 29, also of Dallas, is charged with one count each of sex trafficking children, transporting a minor to engage in commercial sex acts, felon possessing ammunition, and sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion.  Nash and Moser are also each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.  Moser and Shugars are also charged with one count of use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise.

The indictment alleges that from about April 1, 2014 through Jan. 1, 2015, Nash recruited, enticed, harbored and transported an adult victim knowing and in reckless regard that force, threats of force, fraud and/or coercion would be used to cause that adult victim to engage in a commercial sex act.

The indictment further alleges that from about Oct. 4 through Oct. 7, 2014, Nash recruited, enticed, harbored and transported victim Jane Doe, who, as Nash knew, was under the age of 18, to engage in a commercial sex act.  During that time, Nash knowingly transported victim Jane Doe from Texas to Louisiana to engage in a commercial sex act, and during that time, Nash, a convicted felon, also illegally possessed ammunition.

Nash and Moser allegedly conspired, from about April l1, 2014 through Dec. 9, 2014, to sex traffic an adult victim.

The indictment further alleges that from about June 1, 2012 through March 1, 2015, Moser and Shugars used facilities of interstate commerce, to include cellphones and the internet, to promote, manage, establish, carry on and facilitate a prostitution enterprise.

An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury; a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.  If convicted, however, the maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking is life in prison.  The statutory penalty for each count of sex trafficking children and transporting a minor to engage in commercial sex acts is not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison.  The statutory penalty for sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion is not less than 15 years and up to life in federal prison.  The felon in possession of ammunition count carries a statutory sentence of not less than 15 years.  The maximum statutory penalty for use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise is five years.  Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cara Foos Pierce, Northern District of Texas, is in charge of the prosecution.