Recently, Dongmei Zhang, a Chinese immigrant and owner of a travel agency in New York, also known as Michelle Zhang, has found herself in legal trouble. She has been accused of operating an illegal massage parlor in Louisiana, referred to as “LA” hereafter, which has led to her receiving an arrest warrant. She is currently being held at Orange County Jail in New York and may face extradition to Louisiana for trial. However, her lawyer and family representatives have stated that she has never been to Louisiana and has had no economic dealings there, leading them to suspect that her identity has been stolen.
Asian American Lawyer Association Chairman Yanfei Ran held a press conference on August 21 to explain the situation. Dongmei Zhang received a call from the New York State Police on August 5, informing her of a warrant related to her. She went to the police station accompanied by her lawyer, Mingli Chen, hoping to clarify the situation and return home, but to her surprise, she was arrested upon arrival.
According to documents from Louisiana authorities, an extradition warrant was issued by the Parish of East Baton Rouge court on August 3, citing charges of soliciting prostitution, operating a massage parlor without a license, and engaging in human trafficking/prostitution-related activities.
Records show that in 2019, Dongmei Zhang applied to become the owner of Wonderful Land Massage parlor, receiving a business license on March 21, 2021. However, on March 7, 2022, the license was suspended for various violations such as prostitution, human trafficking, and false advertising. Eventually, on April 8, 2022, the license was revoked, and on July 19, 2022, a final ruling was made to revoke the operating license of the massage parlor and its owner, although the establishment continued to operate illicitly.
Dongmei is currently detained in Orange County Jail in New York, with an extradition hearing scheduled for August 28.
Yanfei Ran emphasized that Dongmei Zhang has never set foot in Louisiana and has had no connection to any commercial activities or individuals in the state. She is a Christian and a member of the congregation at the New York Harvest Church, where she is known for her sincerity, humility, and law-abiding nature. The news of these allegations has come as a bolt from the blue for her. It is believed that her personal information was likely stolen and used fraudulently in the registration of local companies and related documents.
The massage parlor in question was registered in 2013, but in 2019, the ownership name was changed to Dongmei Zhang. Family representatives of Dongmei presented evidence to reporters indicating that the signature on the registration documents was an electronic signature.
Dongmei has been living in New York for over 20 years and currently holds a green card. Her family is facing significant hardship due to these accusations, with her teenage children particularly impacted.
To support Dongmei in covering legal fees, investigation costs, and expert expenses, the Asian American Attorney Association (AAAA) has set up a legal aid and advocacy fund for her on GoFundMe.
Yanfei Ran mentioned that the legal team and family are actively collecting supportive materials, including proof of long-term residency and work in New York, financial and communication records showing no visits to Louisiana, testimonial letters from the community, clients, and church pastors, as well as documents from Louisiana that do not align with her true identity.
Additionally, the Asian American Lawyer Association intends to launch social advocacy and education campaigns to raise awareness at both public and policy levels about the serious consequences of identity theft, aiming to prevent innocent individuals from being harmed again through secondary victimization.