LYNNWOOD — An ICE-designated “worst of the worst” offender was arrested for allegedly operating an illicit massage parlor in Lynnwood that openly advertised paid sexual services. Xihui Huang, 35, a Chinese national who overstayed her tourist visa, was taken into custody by ICE Seattle in June 2026 while her immigration hearing was pending. On July 29, Lynnwood police raided and served search warrants at CiCi Spa charging Huang and her husband, Yong Feng, 47, with promoting prostitution in the second degree and permitting prostitution. Huang also faces an unlicensed massage practice charge. Sun Sweet Spa and Sunshine Massage, also located in the same strip mall, were served search warrants by LPD.
“The Lynnwood Police Department remains committed to investigating crimes that exploit vulnerable individuals and negatively impact our community,” LPD released in a statement. “We appreciate the assistance of our partner agencies and victim service providers who supported yesterday’s operation.”
A detailed probable-cause affidavit by Lynnwood Police Officer Neketa McDonald (Case No. 2025-00043412), paints a picture of an alleged illicit massage operation marked by “short-stay” male customers wanting the “girlfriend experience,” explicit online reviews of paid sexual acts, living quarters for workers, and indicators of commercial sex work.
According to an official post by ICE’s Seattle Enforcement and Removal Operations account on June 15, 2026, Huang was in the country illegally on an overstayed tourist visa. She had previously been arrested in Albany, Oregon, on charges that included money laundering, promoting prostitution, criminal conspiracy, and racketeering. She accepted a plea agreement and was pending an immigration hearing at the time of the Lynnwood Police raid.
In the affidavit, Huang’s husband Feng told detectives he was aware of his wife’s Oregon arrests related to an illicit massage business and money laundering. He said she had lived in the United States for years and was seeking asylum citing an abortion in China, yet, according to ICE, Huang entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and is illegally in the country because she overstayed that visa.
Feng stated he met Huang after her Oregon arrests and that she opened CiCi Spa—confirmed by the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System website. He also stated that Huang opened a Seattle location called M Spa during their relationship, and that her income derived from the businesses — including funds used to purchase a Porsche SUV.
Feng told detectives during his detainment that he was scheduled to fly to China the next day, July 30, for work and stays in China “weeks at a time.” He is being charged with permit Permitting prostitution (RCW 9A.88.090), a misdemeanor, and Promoting prostitution in the second degree (RCW 9A.88.080), a Class C felony. He was released from Snohomish County Jail at 5:58 p.m., July 30—no bond amount was assigned.
Huang was released with no bond amount on August 3, after appearing in court on July 30.
Alleged Lynnwood prostitution operation at CiCi Spa
CiCi Spa operated at 3810 196th St. SW, Suite 6, in a mixed-use commercial complex in Lynnwood. According to detectives, the windows and the glass front door were covered with generic stock massage images that blocked exterior views. Customers would ring an exterior doorbell to be let in.
Surveillance by law enforcement over multiple days and random timeframes showed a steady stream of “short-stay” male patrons — many visits lasting only 15 to 60 minutes or less — arriving by car and by foot. No female customers were ever observed.
Asian women appearing to be employees periodically exited CiCi Spa in robes, sometimes revealing cleavage, to handle trash, mail, or smoke before returning inside, the police report stated. After closing, the lights went out with no further exits, this includes the workers, consistent with people living in the establishment with overnight stays, the police report noted.
Open-source reviews on sites such as RubMaps provided alleged graphic accounts of the alleged sex services at CiCi Spa.
One July 2026 review by user “xmpmediaplayer” described a “nice girl” who was “extremely receptive to a whole GFE with a ton of flirting and dirty talk.” The reviewer detailed playing with and sucking on nipples, then “right to CBJ, CFS in cowgirl, doggy, missionary and side.” Officers interpreted “GFE” as girlfriend experience, “CBJ” as covered blowjob (oral sex with a condom), and “CFS” as covered full service (penetrative sex with a condom).
The review continued that the customer “got her down on the side and we cuddled a bit while she jerked till I busted and fondled her tits,” with a $70 house fee plus $200 tip.
A second review from July 21, 2026, by “jamestommie72” described a massage that transitioned to the masseuse stripping and performing “a heavy, wet oral phase,” followed by missionary sex in which the reviewer “pinned her down, folding her legs over my shoulders and hammering her into the table with deep, rhythmic pounding. Her tight, gripping p-ssy felt incredible as I bottomed out inside her.”
He wrote of climaxing into a condom and the “post-nut milking sensation,” listing a $60 house fee and $140 tip. The masseuse was described as Vietnamese.
During the July 29 raid, officers found the interior sparsely furnished and unhygienic, with ordinary bedsheets on massage tables, numerous condoms, and clear living quarters: mattresses, a makeshift shower, washer and dryer, suitcases, and a kitchen area.
Two women identified as employees were present in robes. Both identified Huang as their boss from her driver’s license photo. One of the women said she had worked for Huang for approximately two years and admitted providing hand jobs and blowjobs. The other woman has been there for about a month, denied sexual services but reported seeing up to 10 or more customers daily and receiving only tips, not wages.
Huang ordered groceries and takeout for delivery to the workers; whereas husband Feng transported supplies such as tissues, water, and air purifiers to the establishment and allowed rent to be paid from a bank account in his name.
A male patron was inside CiCi Spa at the time of the police raid and detained. Huang and Feng were detained near their Kenmore residence.
No massage licenses were displayed at the spa and no valid massage therapist license for Huang was located on the Washington Department of Health website. Professional massage practitioners are required by law to display licenses visibly at the place of business.
Representatives from a nonprofit that assists human-trafficking victims responded to the warrant service alongside code enforcement and fire officials. The affidavit notes living conditions and the pattern of “short-stay” traffic as consistent with illicit operations that can involve exploitation, though no formal charges related to human trafficking have been filed.
Immigration enforcement and Washington state sanctuary policies
The Trump administration has prioritized human trafficking and illicit massage businesses as public-safety threats, with Justice Department and ICE actions targeting such operations nationwide. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed a veteran federal prosecutor Ali Serano to lead the DOJ’s anti-human trafficking efforts. Officials said that massage businesses frequently involve debt bondage, control of workers, and proceeds that fund other criminal activity.
Huang “Worst of the Worst” description as an “illegal alien” with promoting-prostitution and money-laundering charges fits ICE’s focus on such individuals who overstay visas and reoffend while immigration proceedings are pending.
Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act enacted 2019, restricts state and local agencies from using resources to assist federal civil immigration enforcement except as required by law or court order. The law’s firewalls mean local criminal investigations, such as with CiCi Spa, proceed separately from immigration enforcement unless a criminal conviction or court order triggers federal action. Federal immigration action had already occurred in June 2026, and now Huang is facing new local charges.
In March 2026, just four months before the CiCi Spa warrants, the Lynnwood City Council unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming that no city funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel shall be used to investigate, enforce, cooperate with, or assist federal civil immigration enforcement, except as required by state or federal law or court order. The resolution expressed concern over federal immigration practices, directed staff to expand immigration-related resources for residents, and also aligned with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act.
While the resolution limited local involvement in civil immigration matters, Lynnwood police independently investigated and executed the criminal search warrants based on the probable cause of state crimes—promoting and permitting prostitution. In this instance, LPD detectives built the case through open-source reviews, physical and GPS surveillance, utility records, and the warrant itself.
Resources for victims
Individuals who believe they are victims of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, or who have information about such activity, can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 (24/7, confidential; text 233733 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org).
In Washington, the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network and organizations such as the Organization for Prostitution Survivors (206-853-6243) and YouthCare’s specialized services for commercially sexually exploited youth provide local support, case management, and housing referrals.
The Department of Homeland Security tip line is 1-866-347-2423.
Author: Mario Lotmore
