Two Arrested in 4-Month Natural Healing Prostitute Investigation

Cranford police arrested two women from New York in connection with a four-month prostitution investigation that targeted employees of Natural Healing, a massage parlor on North Avenue.

Police arrested Christina Lew, 47, of Flushing and Jie Wang, 49, of Fresh Meadows on March 25. Both parties were charged with engaging in prostitution and a disorderly persons offense.

The arrests were the result of a four-month police investigation that targeted employees of Natural Healing, a massage parlor that advertised in newspaper classifieds and allegedly performed sexual services to clients in exchange for money, according to Cranford Police Chief Eric Mason. 

Mason lauded the arrests, noting that prostitution is frequently associated with organized crime, drugs, and gangs. 

"These crimes have no place in Cranford and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that they don't take root here," he said.

The investigation was spearheaded by Detective John Swandrak and was initiated after the police received several tips from anonymous citizens.

The arrests were made at approximately 5:30 p.m. after a combination of police surveillance and undercover operations by Cranford detectives.

Lew and Wang were both released on their own recognizance and are scheduled for a first court appearance on March 29 in Cranford Municipal Court.