Trial set in state lawsuit over massage parlor prostitution

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge is set to hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by state officials seeking $700,000 in civil penalties against a massage parlor owner who pleaded guilty to prostitution charges.

A three-day bench trial against Da Zhong Wang of Smyrna is scheduled to begin Monday in New Castle County Superior Court.

Wang owned and operated massage parlors in Middletown, Dover, Smyrna and Rehoboth Beach. He pleaded guilty to one count of permitting prostitution in 2015 after undercover officers who paid for massages at three of the four locations were solicited for sex.

The state is now seeking civil penalties of $100,000 each for seven alleged violations of racketeering laws involving the operation of massage parlors as fronts for prostitution.

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