Honolulu massage parlor owner convicted of bribing HSI special agent

HONOLULU – The owner of two Honolulu massage parlors was found guilty by a federal jury Monday afternoon of two counts of bribing a public official, the result of a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Biyu Situ, 48, owned and operated the Blue Angel massage parlor, which served as a front for prostitution activity. According to evidence introduced in court, Situ offered an HSI special agent $5,000 to protect the facility - including giving advance notice about any enforcement actions by authorities. Situ also offered the special agent $5,000 to obtain U.S. citizenship without taking any citizenship test.

Situ had previously operated the Mayflower massage parlor, another front for prostitution, which was shut down following police and immigration inspections.

Situ now faces up to 15 years in prison for each count when she is sentenced July 24 by Senior District Judge Susan Oki Mollway.

The prosecution was handled by office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii.