Executive Summary
- A San Jose family faces 26 felony counts for allegedly operating a network of 10 brothels.
- Authorities seized $1.2 million in cash and identified over 40 women connected to the trafficking ring.
- The investigation, “Operation Family Ties,” began with a suspicious business application in Morgan Hill.
- Charges include conspiracy, pimping, money laundering, and tax fraud.
Prosecutors in Santa Clara County have charged three members of a San Jose family with running a network of sex brothels disguised as massage parlors throughout the Bay Area, following a multi-agency investigation known as “Operation Family Ties.” According to the District Attorney’s Office, the operation resulted in the seizure of $1.2 million in illicit profits and the identification of more than 40 women connected to the alleged trafficking ring.
Authorities identified the primary suspects as a married couple, Joseph Bresee, 77, and Binghua Bresee, 52, alongside their son, Jiabao Huang, 30. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office alleges that the family managed at least 10 brothels across the county, including locations in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Jose, Cupertino, and Mountain View. A fourth individual has also been charged on suspicion of money laundering in connection with one of the locations.
The investigation was initiated in June 2025 after a Morgan Hill police officer flagged a suspicious business application. Officials stated that one of the defendants attempted to open a massage parlor using another individual’s identity. This initial inquiry allowed investigators to unravel a broader network, leading to the involvement of the FBI and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle the operation.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen condemned the alleged activities in a formal statement. “The trafficking of human beings has no place in our community, or any other,” Rosen said. “Modern slavery is morally and legally wrong and will be met with no toleration and—as you can see by the agencies cooperating in this operation—the strictest legal accountability.” The defendants face 26 felony counts, including criminal conspiracy, pimping, money laundering, and tax fraud.
Investigative Outlook
This case highlights the persistent challenge law enforcement faces in distinguishing legitimate businesses from illicit fronts within the personal service industry. The significant seizure of assets and the multi-jurisdictional nature of the charges indicate a strategy focused on dismantling the financial infrastructure of alleged trafficking organizations, rather than solely targeting street-level offenses. As the case proceeds to the judicial phase, the court will likely scrutinize the financial records and the conditions of the 40 women identified by investigators. It is important to note that all individuals named in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
