Alleged brothel raid in Philadelphia

CENTER CITY - March 11, 2009 On Wednesday morning, a task force of federal agents moved in on a Center City location known for prostitution.

A combination of Internal Revenue Service agents and agents from ICE, Immigration and Custom Enforcement, took four women into custody, all of Asian descent.

Sources say the IRS criminal division is investigating possible tax and money laundering, while ICE is looking into immigration issues, possible human trafficking, and money laundering.

All the agents on Samson Street refused public comment, as did the media spokespersons for their agencies.

Police sources tell Action News, 1112 Sansom is a known vice location, a massage parlor of longstanding; an independent source calls it a busy operation. It's clientele being men with high incomes and many of them doctors and lawyers.

People who live nearby were not surprised to hear about the raid. Police have busted this location before.

IRS agents removed several boxes believed to contain financial records and perhaps client lists. Again, no one is officially commenting for the record so far.

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