A Smyrna man who owns massage parlors in Delaware was arrested Thursday following a prostitution bust in Rehoboth.

On Thursday Delaware State Police detectives, with the assistance of the Department of State Division of Professional Regulation and the Delaware State Fire Marshall's Office, continued their investigations into the Sussex County massage parlors conducting illegal prostitution activity and arrested the 50-yearold business owner of Relaxed Spa.

Dazhong Wang, 50, of Smyrna, was taken into custody after he was scheduled to meet with an officer from the State Fire Marshall's Office in Dover Thursday afternoon. Further investigation revealed he is the owner of two other spas located in Dover and Smyrna. A forth business in Middletown, owned by Wang, was closed after arrests were made by Middletown Police Department for prostitution in January.

Wang was charged with second-degree promoting prostitution, and permitting prostitution which stemmed from the incident that occurred in Rehoboth on Dec. 4. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $5,500 secured bond.

Wang’s arrest follows a joint operation conducted Dec. 5 targeting two local massage parlors in the Rehoboth Beach area. The following agencies were involved in the investigation: Delaware State Police Sussex Drug Task Force, Sussex Governor’s Task Force, Troop 4 Major Crimes Unit, Department of State Division of Professional Regulation, State of Delaware Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The investigation began Dec. 4 when an undercover detective arrived at the Top Quality Spa located at 37169 Rehoboth Avenue Extended for a massage. While performing the massage, the masseuse, Xiangyu Jin, 44 of Rehoboth, allegedly offered to perform a sex act in exchange for cash. The detective refused and left the business.

The same undercover detective then entered the Relaxed Spa located at 37385 Rehoboth Avenue Extended for a massage. While performing the massage, the masseuse, Meizhu Zhang, 43 of Rehoboth, allegedly offered to perform a sex act in exchange for cash. The detective refused and left the business.

Shortly thereafter, investigators executed simultaneous search warrants at the spas. Meizhu Zhang was taken into custody at the Relax Spa without incident. Also located in the business during the raid was Howard W. Brand Jr., 46 of Lewes. Further investigation revealed that Brand was allegedly at the business to provide cash in exchange for a sex act from Meizhu Zhang. Xiangyu Jin and another masseuse, Yan F. Dong, 40 of Rehoboth, were taken into custody at Top Quality Spa. Business records and prostitution paraphernalia were seized during the execution of the search warrants of both businesses.

Zhang was charged with prostitution, engage in practice of massage and bodywork therapy without being duly licensed. Zhang was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released after posting $550 secured bond.

Jin was charged with prostitution, engage in practice of massage and bodywork therapy without being duly licensed. Jin was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released after posting $550 secured bond.

Dong was charged with prostitution, engage in practice of massage and bodywork therapy without being duly licensed. Dong was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released after posting $550.

The following individuals were also contacted and found to be patronizing the business in exchange for sex acts.

Arthur J. Stouffs, 72, of Bethesda, Maryland was charged with patronizing a prostitute or request sexual contact in return for fee. He was released on a criminal summons.

Richard L. Engle, 38, of Magnolia was charged with patronizing a prostitute or request sexual contact in return for fee. He was released on criminal summons.

Barry C. Lenhart, 72, of Lewes, was charged with patronizing a prostitute or request sexual contact in return for free. He was released on a criminal summons.

James S. Shortley, 80, of Rehoboth, was charged with patronizing a prostitute or request sexual contact in return for free. He was released on criminal summons.

Howard W. Brand Jr., 46, of Lewes, was charged with patronizing a prostitute or request for sexual contact in return for free. He was released on criminal summons.