Crime & Safety

Two Arrested in Lawrence House of Prostitution, $26K Seized, Police Say

This wraps up a two-month undercover investigation.

A two-month undercover investigation was concluded last week with the execution of search warrants at two locations in Lawrence and two arrests.

Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. said during the course of theinvestigation, undercover officers were solicited for sex by women working at 88 Lakedale Drive in Lawrence.

On Thursday, Nov. 7, officers executed search warrants there and arrested the manager, Yuzhu Zhou. Officers seized $274, ledgers and notes. A 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser was also seized as proceeds from prostitution. 

Officers also executed search warrants at Zhou’s residence on Dogwood Drive in Lawrence. A safe containing $26,470 was located in a bedroom closet. An additional $250 in cash, notes, ledgers, a laptop computer, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a dirt bike were also seized. A 2009 Lexus RX3 was also seized as proceeds from prostitution.  

Officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office, Special Investigations Unit, the County sheriff’s office, the Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence and Trenton police departments, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation and made the arrests.  

Zhou, 55, of Lawrence, was charged with three counts of third-degree maintaining a house of prostitution and one count of operating a sexually orientated business, a fourth-degree offense. She is free on $60,000 bail.  

Sha Liu, age 32, of Flushing, N.Y., was arrested at 88 Lakedale Drive for propositioning an officer. She was charged with engaging in prostitution, a disorderly persons offense, and released on a summons pending court proceedings. 


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