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Attorneys for women accused of running Orchids of Asia Day Spa respond to State's appeal

Orchids of Asia Day Spa
Posted at 1:28 PM, Nov 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-14 13:28:58-05

Attorneys representing four women accused of running a prostitution ring at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter filed a response to the State's appeal.

Hua Zhang, 58, Lei Wang, 40, Lei Chen, 44, and Shen Mingbi, 59, are all facing charges related to allegations of prostitution at the massage parlor. It's the same spa that New England Patriot's owner Robert Kraft allegedly visited last January.

Kraft faces two misdemeanors for allegedly soliciting prostitution. He denies the allegations and pleaded not guilty to both counts.

In October, prosecutors formally filed an appeal to a judge's ruling that tossed key evidence from being used at trial.

Now, attorneys representing the four women have fired back, repeatedly pointing out that investigators "did not make any effort to minimize the recording of non-criminal activity."

ALSO: WATCH: Accused madams in massage parlor prostitution sting talk to Martin County detectives | Sneak-and-peek warrants unsealed in Martin County spa busts | Inside the investigation: New evidence released in Martin County spa prostitution case

The filing notes that at a hearing in May, "the Assistant State Attorney conceded that not only did no minimization occur but also that there was no "good faith" effort to minimize."

Lawyers representing the defendants are also highly critical of prosecutors mention of human trafficking.

They write that the state "unequivocally told the trial court" that there was "no evidence of human trafficking."

No hearing date has set been for the case.