new website<\/a> with resources for victims <\/b>and warned sex buyers that \u201cyou are not invisible.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIf you engage in this vile activity, we will know who you are, and we will hold you up to public shame,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\nBeauregard said city officials are also focusing on landlords where the businesses set up shop. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cAll options are on the table, and my administration is reviewing every single one of them,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\nAuthorities to date have charged only one person in connection with the probe: Suping Zhu, 38, manager of Beauty Garden Spa, one of the establishments the city closed. <\/span><\/p>\nZhu, of Flushing, N.Y., pleaded not guilty Monday in Lawrence District Court to charges of trafficking a person for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution, and keeping a house of prostitution.<\/span><\/p>\nShe was ordered held on $25,000 bail and her next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 24, records show.<\/span><\/p>\nDuring Thursday\u2019s briefing, Methuen\u2019s police chief, Scott J. McNamara, told reporters the four spas that closed voluntarily had done so \u201cjust prior\u201d to inspectors arriving.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIs that a coincidence?\u201d McNamara said. \u201cI\u2019ll let you be the judge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nHe said city police are receiving technological upgrades, including license plate readers that can identify sex buyers coming and going from the suspected brothels. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe Methuen Police Department will intensify our efforts to counter attempts to reopen by any of these operations determined to be illegitimate,\u201d McNamara said. <\/span><\/p>\nVictims of human trafficking can call the local tip line at 978-983-8794 or a national victim hotline at 888-373-7888. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\nMaterial from prior Globe stories was used in this report. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nTravis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n