Two Women Arrested on Charges Related to Their Operation of a Brothel in Dallas

DALLAS — As part of an ongoing investigation into sex trafficking in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Metroplex, on Friday, August 26, 2016, members of the North Texas Trafficking Taskforce arrested two women on federal charges outlined in a just-unsealed superseding indictment, returned by a grand jury last week, related to their operation of the Doll House massage parlor in Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

During Friday’s operation, defendant Connie Su Moser, a/k/a “Vivian” and “Song Ye Hong,” 63, was arrested at her home in Lewisville, Texas.  Defendant Kum Shugars, 67, was arrested at the Doll House.  Moser is the owner of the Doll House; Shugars is one of the managers.  In addition to the arrests, the Taskforce seized approximately $420,000 from Moser’s home, approximately $70,000 in her bank accounts, and her 2015 Lexus automobile.  Moser and Shugars made their initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon.  Moser was detained, and Shugars has a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney on Thursday afternoon, September 1, 2016.

The other defendant charged in the case, Allen Nash, a/k/a “A-1,” 29, also of Dallas, is charged with one count each of sex trafficking of children; transportation of a minor to engage in commercial sex acts; felon in possession of ammunition; and sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion.  Nash and Moser are also each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.  Moser and Shugars are also charged with one count of use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise.

The indictment alleges that from approximately April 1, 2014 through January 1, 2015, Nash recruited, enticed, harbored and transported an adult victim knowing and in reckless regard that force, threats of force, fraud and/or coercion would be used to cause that adult victim to engage in a commercial sex act.

The indictment further alleges that from approximately October 4, 2014 through October 7, 2014, Nash recruited, enticed, harbored and transported victim Jane Doe, who, as Nash knew, was under the age of 18, to engage in a commercial sex act.  During that time, Nash knowingly transported victim Jane Doe from Texas to Louisiana to engage in a commercial sex act, and during that time, Nash, a convicted felon, also illegally possessed ammunition.

Nash and Moser allegedly conspired, from approximately April l1, 2014 through December 9, 2014, to commit sex trafficking of an adult victim.

The indictment further alleges that from approximately June 1, 2012 through March 1, 2015, Moser and Shugars used facilities of interstate commerce, to include cell phones and the Internet, to promote, manage, establish, carry on and facilitate a prostitution enterprise.

An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.  If convicted, however, the maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking is life in prison.  The statutory penalty for each count of sex trafficking of children and transportation of a minor to engage in commercial sex acts is not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison.  The statutory penalty for sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion is not less than 15 years and up to life in federal prison.  The felon in possession of ammunition count carries a statutory sentence of not less than 15 years.  The maximum statutory penalty for use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise is five years.  Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 fine.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office – all members of the North Texas Trafficking Taskforce – are investigating the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cara Foos Pierce is in charge of the prosecution.

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