Medford Woman Arraigned in Connection With Human Trafficking Enterprise

– Allison Goldsberry

A Medford woman and Woburn man have been arraigned in connection with running an extensive criminal enterprise involving human trafficking, according to information released by Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Xiu J. Chen, 32, of Medford, and Ronald Keplin, 57, of Woburn, were arraigned in Somerville District Court on Tuesday. Chen and Keplin are charged with Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count each), Deriving Support from Prostitution (6 counts each) and Keeping a House of Ill Fame (6 counts each), according to a press release from the AG’s office.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Neil Walker set bail at $250,000 for both Chen and Keplin, with the conditions that they surrender their passports, remain on home confinement, and be monitored by a GPS device if they are released on bail.

Authorities say the extensive human trafficking operation allegedly spanned multiple communities including Bedford, Billerica, Medford, Reading, Wilmington, and Woburn.

“We allege that these individuals ran an extensive local human trafficking organization through what outwardly appeared to be legitimate businesses in multiple communities,” AG Coakley said in a statement. “The trafficking of women is often insidious and out of public view, but it is happening right in our own communities. Today’s arrests are due to a collaborative effort between our office, HSI and our local police partners and we thank them for assisting in this investigation and these arrests.”

According to authorities, Chen and Keplin allegedly operated massage parlors that actually were fronts for an “extensive” human trafficking operation, including Mystic Health Center in Medford. Through these businesses, authorities allege, Chen and Keplin offered sexual activity between women they employed and their clients in exchange for a fee. Chen and Keplin are accused of recruiting women from across the eastern seaboard, transporting and housing them, arranging sexual encounters, and managing the financial operation of the organization.

Chen and Keplin will arraigned Tuesday morning in Somerville District Court. The investigation remains ongoing.