JESSUP, Md. — Howard County police have charged a man and a woman, both from New York, with human trafficking of two women at a Jessup motel.
Zhongmei Zhang, 35, and Li Yu, 41, both from Flushing, N.Y., were each charged with two counts of human trafficking and two counts of prostitution.
Police received a tip on July 17 for possible prostitution activity at the Red Roof Inn in the 8000 block of Washington Boulevard. After investigating, detectives determined that prostitution was happening in one of the motel rooms.
Police arrived with a search warrant for the room and found Yu and a woman inside the hotel and Zhang and another woman outside of the motel. Police believe that Zhang and Yu were posting ads online, arranging prostitution appointments and keeping all the money.
The victims have been referred to the appropriate services for assistance and Zhang and Yu are both being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about suspected human trafficking or prostitution to contact police at (410) 313-STOP or email them at HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.
