Las Vegas, Nev. – Four persons have been charged by the Federal Grand Jury with operating illegal brothels in Las Vegas and transporting women across state lines to work as prostitutes, announced Steven W. Myhre, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Charged in two separate federal indictments returned on December 4, 2007, are Jia Hui Keyes, 42, Christopher Smith, 34, Xiao Hong Qi, aka Linh, 35, and Mouhua Liu, aka Andy, 38, all of Las Vegas. Keyes, Smith, and Liu were arrested in Las Vegas on Friday, December 7, 2007, and are scheduled to make an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leavitt at 3:00 p.m. today. Qi is currently at large.

According to the Indictments, between about 2004 and 2006, defendants Jia Hui Keyes, Chris Smith, Xiao Hong Qui, and Mouhua Liu allegedly operated brothels in the Las Vegas area at various locations. The defendants allegedly induced illegal aliens and other women to travel to Nevada to work at the brothels as prostitutes. The prostitutes were primarily of Asian descent from Southern California and other areas of the United States. Typically, the women worked 10 to 15 days at one brothel, before being circulated to a new brothel. The conspirators used the proceeds from the brothel operation to pay themselves and to cover expenses of the brothels. The Indictments state that some of the brothels were located at 4008 Calle Mirador, 3755 Arville Street, 3474 Eldon Street, and 4325 San Joaquin Avenue, all in Las Vegas.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Johnson.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Charging Specifics:

Jia Hui Keyes

• Count 1: Conspiracy To Commit Offenses Against the United States (operating a business involving prostitution offenses, transporting individuals in interstate commerce for the purposes of prostitution, and inducing individuals to travel in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution);
• Counts 2 & 3: Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise (a prostitution business);
• Counts 4 & 5: Interstate Transportation of Individual for Prostitution;
• Counts 6 & 7: Coercion and Enticement to Travel in Interstate Commerce for Prostitution. (two counts)

Christopher Smith

• Count 1: Conspiracy To Commit Offenses Against the United States;
• Count 3: Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise (a prostitution business);
• Count 5: Interstate Transportation of Individual for Prostitution;
• Count 7: Coercion and Enticement to Travel in Interstate Commerce for Prostitution. (two counts);
• Count 8: Possession With Intent to Distribute Ecstacy

Xiao Hong Qi

• Count 1: Conspiracy To Commit Offenses Against the United States;
• Count 2: Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise (a prostitution business);
• Count 3: Interstate Transportation of Individual for Prostitution;
• Count 4: Coercion and Enticement to Travel in Interstate Commerce for Prostitution.

Mouhua Liu

• Count 1: Conspiracy To Commit Offenses Against the United States;
• Count 2: Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprise (a prostitution business);
• Count 3: Interstate Transportation of Individual for Prostitution;
• Count 4: Coercion and Enticement to Travel in Interstate Commerce for Prostitution;
• Count 5: Possession With Intent to Distribute Ecstacy

Maximum Statutory Penalties:

• Conspiracy - Not more than five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
• Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering - Not more than five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
• Interstate Transportation of Individual For Prostitution - Not more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
• Enticing Individual to Travel in Interstate Commerce For Prostitution - Not more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
• Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing ecstacy -Not less than five years and not more than 40 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine.

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