ICE arrests Chinese citizen charged with sex trafficking

PORTLAND, Maine – An unlawfully present Chinese national charged with sex trafficking now faces removal to China after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation. Tian Tao, 54, a citizen of China, was arrested by Rockland Police and ICE for sex trafficking violations and entered ICE custody Feb. 20. He remains in ICE custody pending removal.

“Illicit massage parlors are notoriously difficult to investigate, but collaboration between our special agents and local police allowed us to bring a significant consequence to a person charged with a serious crime in our community. There is no place in New England for people who exploit and traffic vulnerable people. Working together, we prove that actions have consequences – in this case, the consequence is removal from the United States,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol.

Local police in Lincoln County received information in 2023 regarding a potential illicit massage parlor operating in the county. ICE was contacted to assist in the investigation and developed information allegedly tying Tao to other illicit massage parlors in the area. With this information, Rockland Police obtained a state warrant and arrested Tao for sex trafficking.

Tao entered the United States lawfully in 2016 but violated the terms of his admission.

This case was investigated by ICE alongside the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office and the Rockland Police Department.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE or completing the online tip form.