FBI targets area Asian massage parlors | News - Illinois Times

[massage]

Illinois Times has learned that a 60-year-old Springfield man and others connected with Asian massage parlors in the area are under investigation by the FBI for allegations of human trafficking, prostitution and schemes to gain citizenship benefits for immigrants through sham marriages to Americans.

Gregory L. Fraase didn’t return a phone call and an email, and Daniel Fultz, who said he and lawyer Mark Wykoff are representing Fraase as a result of the investigation, declined comment on Fraase’s behalf.

Gregory Fraase was arrested Feb. 8 by the U.S. Marshal Service and spent four days in the Macon County Jail before being released on his own recognizance.
PHOTO COURTESY MACON COUNTY" class="uk-display-block uk-position-relative uk-visible-toggle"> click to enlarge

PHOTO COURTESY MACON COUNTY

Gregory Fraase was arrested Feb. 8 by the U.S. Marshal Service and spent four days in the Macon County Jail before being released on his own recognizance.

It’s unclear whether Fraase has been charged with any crimes in connection with the investigation.
Gregory Fraase’s name doesn’t appear in the electronic case filing system used by the U.S. Department of Justice. He was arrested Feb. 8 by the U.S. Marshal Service and spent four days in the Macon County Jail before being released on his own recognizance, according to jail records.

People arrested by federal authorities generally aren’t released until they have been charged, and judges can temporarily seal court records and conceal them from public view.

Criminal charges can be filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and be made public. Charges also can become public when someone is charged in a different way – through a grand jury indictment.

The office of Gregory Harris, the Springfield-based U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on March 5. The Springfield FBI office refused to speak with Illinois Times.

Fraase was arrested in his “take-home vehicle” while driving on his way to work as pretreatment supervisor for the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District, according to district Executive Director Gregg Humphrey.

Humphrey told Illinois Times that Fraase continues to be employed by the district, a unit of local government where Fraase has worked for 22 years.

Fraase, the brother of Republican Sangamon County Board member Harry “Tom” Fraase Jr., will be paid $98,134 in fiscal 2024, which ends April 30, district records indicate.

Humphrey said he hasn’t been interviewed by the FBI in connection with Fraase’s arrest or the investigation. The district hasn’t been implicated in any alleged criminal activity, Humphrey said.

“There’s no indication any wrongdoing was done on district time or with district equipment,” he said.

Fraase represented Seven Carpenters LLC when the Springfield-based organization sought and obtained zoning approval from Springfield officials in fall 2021 for a zoning reclassification at 1560 Wabash Ave. to allow for a tattoo shop and a massage establishment now operating as Jade Spa.

Jade Spa, 1560 Wabash Ave., was one of several Asian massage establishments raided by the FBI in early February.
PHOTO BY DEAN OLSEN" class="uk-display-block uk-position-relative uk-visible-toggle"> click to enlarge

PHOTO BY DEAN OLSEN

Jade Spa, 1560 Wabash Ave., was one of several Asian massage establishments raided by the FBI in early February.

The zoning change was approved by the Springfield City Council in November 2021. Fraase’s address was listed in the 2000 block of North Eighth Street in the zoning application.
Jade Spa was one of several Asian massage establishments raided by the FBI in early February, a local law enforcement source who requested anonymity said.

Fraase was listed as a Seven Carpenters manager in the organization’s June 2022 annual report filed with the Illinois Secretary of State Office. He isn’t listed as a manager in current online Secretary of State records.

Records indicate the current managers for Seven Carpenters are Jonathan T. Kinzer and Lui Jai, both of the 2400 block of South First Street.

Michael Durr, an attorney with the Springfield firm of Sgro, Hanrahan, Durr, Rabin & Reinbold, is listed as Seven Carpenters’ agent. Durr didn’t return a phone call seeking comment.

Sangamon County property records list three parcels owned by Seven Carpenters. They are the Wabash Avenue site of Jade Spa; 509 Dawson St., the address of A-1 Spa Massage; and 613 N. Seventh St., the address of Healthy Massage.

Adblock test (Why?)