Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 13HF3673: December 13, 2013
*Co-defendant charged in this case is a fugitive with a warrant out for her arrest
SANTA ANA – A man was arraigned today on charges of conspiracy to commit pimping and pandering by operating a brothel in Irvine and another in Torrance. Gao Yang Zhou, 34, Rowland Heights, is charged with 12 felony counts including three felony counts each of pimping, pandering, money laundering, and one felony count each of conspiracy to commit pimping, conspiracy to commit general pandering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a sentencing enhancement for money laundering over $50,000. If convicted on all charges, Zhou faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison. The People requested Zhou be held on $500,000 bail at his arraignment today, and he must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Dec. 20, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach. Continue reading