BB Massage Spa at the Southgate Shopping Center in Parkersburg was closed Monday. According to Parkersburg Police, two people were arrested on prostitution charges and arrangements were made to return victims of human trafficking home after the execution of search warrants on Nov. 1 at BB locations in Parkersburg and Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — A multi-agency investigation of massage parlors on both sides of the Ohio River has resulted in multiple arrests and allowed victims of human trafficking to return home.

According to a Facebook post from the Parkersburg Police Department, the investigation began in August in cooperation with the West Virginia State Police, Washington and Noble County Sheriff’s Offices, the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, the Ohio State Medical Board and the West Virginia Massage Licensing Board.

Search warrants were executed Nov. 1 at the BB Massage Spas at the Southgate Shopping Center in Parkersburg and on Pike Street in Marietta with the assistance of the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force and Marietta Police Department.

Two females were charged by Parkersburg Police with prostitution; their names were not included in the post. The release also said arrangements were made for victims of human trafficking to return home, with a local shelter providing emergency housing assistance.

Information gathered in the searches led investigators “to an address located in Roane and Wirt counties,” where a subsequent search warrant was executed, the post said.

Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Spencer McPeek said the case started in Washington County but it was quickly determined “there was more going over in Parkersburg than was going on here.” No one has been charged in Washington County at this point, but the case remains under investigation there, he said.

Additional information was not immediately available from Parkersburg Police on Monday. The post said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.

The post also noted that Parkersburg Police provided “investigative assistance” to the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office regarding the Oct. 26 execution of a search warrant at Sophie’s Relax Massage on Southgate Parkway in Cambridge, Ohio.

A release from the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and detectives working with Homeland Security Investigations and the State Medical Board of Ohio executed that warrant.

Yinqiu Li, 58, of China, was charged with two fourth-degree felony counts of promoting prostitution and is in custody at the Guernsey County Jail. She is the owner of Sophie’s Relax Massage, said Guernsey County Sheriff’s Lt. Sam Williams.

Williams said his department began the investigation after receiving tips from the state medical board and started working with other agencies because of similarities in the cases.

On Monday, the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office announced another arrest in the case.

According to a release on the department’s website, Brent Preece, 63, of Cambridge, was arrested Nov. 9 and charged with promoting prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony.

“Preece was facilitating day-to-day operations at the business and paying for sexual services,” the release said, adding that he is in the Guernsey County Jail awaiting a hearing in Cambridge Municipal Court.

Numerous local individuals have been identified frequenting the massage business, the Guernsey County release said. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

McPeek said the Cambridge location does not have the same owner as the BB Massage Spas in Parkersburg and Marietta.

Anyone with additional information about this investigation or any knowledge of additional victims of human trafficking is encouraged to contact:

∫ Parkersburg Police Department, 304-424-8444.

∫ Washington County Sheriff’s Office, 740-376-7070.

∫ Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office, 740-439-4455.

∫ National Human Trafficking Hotline, 888-3737-888.