An Exeter, N.H. man police say used a Haverhill residence to carry out activities related to an illegal prostitution ring across the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire has been sentenced to serve four months in prison for the crime.
According to United States Attorney Scott W. Murray, 60-year-old Ken Duc Ma owned and managed several businesses in Plaistow, Exeter and Salem, N.H. said to provide massage services that actually offered sexual services in exchange for money from March 2015 until Nov. 2017.
A November 2017 search warrant executed at a Haverhill property owned by Ma found that the location was “used to receive packages and store supplies for his businesses,” officials said. During the search, officials seized 11 boxes of white sheets used to cover massage tables, and plastic bags containing 1,092 condoms, in addition to large amounts of cash wrapped in newspaper and concealed behind a wall.
“The defendant in this case profited from illegal conduct that exploited women. His prison sentence and substantial forfeiture of property should serve as a deterrent to others who would seek to exploit women for economic gain,” Attorney Murray said. “I am grateful for the work of the multi-jurisdictional investigative team whose efforts brought this defendant to justice.”
Ma previously pleaded guilty to his crime on Jan. 3 and his term behind bars is followed by three years of supervised release. He is also ordered to forfeit $186,466 and land and buildings in Plaistow, N.H. to the government.