By Tiffany Williams –
Queens, New York prosecutors have indicted a married couple, Kwai Ling Chan and Bobby Chen, along with Tashi Chimchu, on sex trafficking charges for allegedly forcing a Colombian woman to engage in sex for money at a Flushing brothel. The woman was told she had to work off a $14,000 fee in order to bring her 10-year-old daughter to the U.S. from Colombia.
District Attorney Melinda Katz said her office is “committed to fighting back against the exploitation of Queens residents. The defendants are accused of victimizing a young mother of two trying to reunite with her underage daughter. Too often, sex trafficking victims are made to feel as though they have no other choice but to comply with abusive demands.” Katz urged victims to seek help by contacting her office at 718-286-6548.
Chan, 47, and Chen, 38, both of Elmhurst, were arraigned on six counts of sex trafficking, two counts of promoting prostitution in the second degree, and two counts of promoting prostitution in the third degree. Chimchu, 34, of Forest Hills, was indicted on three counts of sex trafficking, one count of promoting prostitution in the second degree, one count of promoting prostitution in the third degree, and unlawfully possessing noxious material. He will be arraigned at a later date.
Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone ordered Chan and Chen to return to court on November 12. If convicted on the top count, the three face up to 25 years in prison.
According to the indictment, Chan met the victim in June 2025 and agreed on a $14,000 fee to bring her 10-year-old daughter to New York. The woman was told she could work as a masseuse to pay off the debt and was told sex with clients was optional. Chan allegedly took possession of the victim’s and her younger daughter’s passports and refused to return them until the debt was paid. Chan also allegedly raised the debt after a supposed infraction.
The indictment states that when a client demanded sex, the victim refused, but Chan allegedly threatened that her older daughter would not come to the U.S. if she did not comply. Verbal threats were also reportedly made against the younger daughter to force the victim to continue prostitution. Between July 6 and September 4, the victim was allegedly forced to have sex with clients several days a week, with the proceeds going to Chan or Chen.
Chimchu allegedly worked at the brothel between August 31 and September 4, arranging appointments, negotiating prices, and collecting payments, which were turned over to Chan or Chen.
On September 4, NYPD’s VICE Enforcement Division conducted an undercover operation, arresting Chimchu and Chan and recovering a pepper spray ball gun from Chimchu. Chen was arrested the next morning when he came to the precinct to check on Chan. All three defendants have remained in custody since their arrests.