SEATTLE — Two men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles operating a brothel in Newcastle where more than 100 prostitutes worked during the past three years.
Thirty-four-year-old Yin Hoo Yap, a citizen of Malaysia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison Friday. Yap’s employee, 53-year-old Kou Chwung Liu, a citizen of China, was sentenced to one year in prison.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed the sentence, saying “the tragedy of these cases is that culturally in Southeast Asia it is more acceptable for young people to be drawn in to this activity.”
In July, Yap and Liu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport individuals in furtherance of prostitution. As part of his plea agreement, Yap forfeited more than $50,000 and a 2004 Lexus SUV to the U.S. government.
Yap and Liu were in the United States illegally and likely will be deported by the U.S. government following their prison terms.
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