⏱ 2 min read
A Chinese national, Zengzeng Liu, also known as ‘Bella’, has been indicted for running a sex trafficking operation in Boston, specifically in the Allston and Brighton areas. Liu, 40, allegedly managed an international sex trafficking operation, recruiting women from Japan, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines to engage in commercial sex acts for buyers. The operation is said to have begun as early as August 2025. Liu’s role involved determining when and where the women would perform commercial sex acts, coordinating appointments, and collecting a commission from the proceeds.
Liu allegedly used fraud, deceit, and altered or forged documents to obtain and maintain apartments used as residential brothels. The defendant also advertised women on commercial sex advertising websites and directed prospective sex buyers to contact a phone number controlled by Liu. During undercover communications, Liu negotiated prices for commercial sex acts and directed buyers to the brothel locations.
The indictment charges Liu with one count of knowingly persuading an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution and three counts of use of facilities of interstate or foreign commerce in aid of racketeering enterprises. Liu was arrested in the Eastern District of New York and is set to appear in federal court in Boston on July 8, 2026.
The investigation and arrest of Liu highlight the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the need for continued vigilance in identifying and prosecuting those involved in such crimes.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Human Trafficking
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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