Chester County prostitution ring broken, authorities say

In the quaint Chester County village of Eagle, a tropical sign with palm trees outside the Melrose Day Spa yesterday contrasted starkly with the law enforcement raid proceeding inside.

The business on Pottstown Pike was one of two sites targeted by local, state and federal officers, who took three people into custody on charges ranging from conspiracy to promote prostitution to attempted forced labor. The other location was the Swan Day Spa on Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn.

William J. Strunk, 68, of Las Vegas; Chun Young Madden, also known as Kimberly Suemi, 54, of Parkesburg; and John G. Evans Jr., 63, of the same Parkesburg address, each were charged with running a brothel in Berwyn between April 2005 and January, as well as violating interstate travel in aid of racketeering, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Madden also faces charges related to an alleged attempt to force two illegal immigrants from China to perform massages that involved sexual contact with male customers, the news release said.

The federal indictment says Strunk transported two women from the People's Republic of China to Berwyn, where he rented an apartment for them and instructed them to work for Madden at the Swan spa.

About May 5, 2006, Madden engaged in sexual contact with a male customer to show the women how to conduct business. She threatened to take them to police if they did not perform as instructed, hitting one in the head with a set of keys and prompting them to flee, the indictment said.

"This is not an ordinary case of prostitution," acting U.S. Attorney Laurie Magid said in the release. "As the indictment alleges, the defendants in this case attempted to force illegal immigrants to work in their criminal enterprise by using threats of deportation."

Brian Michael, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, said Madden had bought an interest in the Berwyn spa, sold it, and moved to the Eagle spa, which is not referenced in the indictment.

Michael P. Robinson, Madden's landlord, gave her 30 days' notice of eviction two weeks ago - but not because he suspected illegal activity.

"I got tired of fighting her for the rent," he said, adding that he had put her on a month-to-month lease about four months ago.

"I thought the business was dying. I never saw any customers there."

Upper Uwchlan Township Police Chief John DeMarco said his department had worked as a "support agency" with state police and agents from ICE.

DeMarco, who praised the collaboration, said his department had seen suspicious activity at the Melrose and "initiated" the probe, but he declined to elaborate.