Naugatuck Spa Owner Arrested on Human Trafficking and Prostitution Charges Following Months-Long Sting

Yiqing Zhang, owner of Cedar Health Therapy Spa, has been arrested on trafficking and prostitution charges following a November 2025 investigation in Naugatuck.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 5:44 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WFSB

Conclusion of "Cedar Health Therapy" Investigation

The Naugatuck Police Department announced a major breakthrough in a protracted vice investigation with the arrest of Yiqing Zhang on March 11, 2026. Zhang, a resident of New Haven, turned herself in to detectives after a warrant was issued for her role as the sole proprietor of Cedar Health Therapy Spa, located at 25 Cedar Street. Upon her surrender, Zhang was held on a court-set bond of $1.5 million and was promptly arraigned at Waterbury Superior Court later that morning.

Complaints and Surveillance Operations

The investigation began in November 2025 after local residents and neighboring businesses filed formal complaints regarding suspected prostitution at the facility. Naugatuck detectives utilized several months of covert surveillance to monitor the premises, confirming that employees were engaging in sexual acts with clients. Prior to Zhang’s arrest, two other employees of the spa had been taken into custody as part of the same investigation, providing further evidence of a coordinated operation.

Evidence of Exploitation and Control

Police allege that Zhang exercised total control over the spa's operations, managing both the premises and the schedules of the employees involved in the illicit activity. Furthermore, investigators found that Zhang was profiting directly from these sexual acts. A critical component of the trafficking charge involves the employment of foreign workers who lacked the necessary state licenses to perform massage therapy in Connecticut. This combination of illegal sexual services and the use of unlicensed labor led to the high-level trafficking charges filed by the state.