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Police believe alleged Rockland prostitution business may be tied to organized crime


Police say Asian Massage operated out of an upstairs business on Route 1 in Rockland. (WGME)
Police say Asian Massage operated out of an upstairs business on Route 1 in Rockland. (WGME)
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ROCKLAND (WGME) -- New details have come to light about a raid on an alleged prostitution business operating out of a massage parlor in Rockland.

One of the victims of human trafficking told police she had no idea who ran the business, but detectives believe organized crime is behind this.

Police say Asian Massage operated out of an upstairs business on Route 1 in Rockland. They say during the raid, detectives found evidence of suspected ties with organized crime in New York involved in human trafficking.

"This is one piece of a much larger puzzle," Rockland Deputy Police Chief Alex Gaylor said.

Police say their investigation began in July, after Asian Massage, which was under investigation in Waldoboro, moved to Rockland.

"After doing some surveillance, they executed a couple of warrants," Gaylor said.

Rockland police seized more than $2,000 in cash, a ledger, phone, receipts and several notebooks.

Court documents show police questioned a number of suspected johns who admitted they received sexual services. It led to Rockland police charging the following people with criminal “Engaging Person for Prostitution.”

  • Richard Generazio, 64, of Owls Head
  • Christopher Mitchell, 41, of Lincolnville
  • Christopher Felicetti, 62, of Washington
  • Bruce Liljegren, 78, of Thomaston
  • Randy Bouchard, 62, of South Thomaston
  • Michael Graves, 65, of Rockport
  • William Heiden, 39, of Rockland
  • Joseph Cady, 50, of Palermo
  • Neal Shepard, 71, of Cushing
  • Stanley Carlton, 65, of Owls Head
  • Mark Strong, 69, of Thomaston

Police say the investigation is still active and additional criminal charges are expected.

One of the men arrested, Mark Strong Sr., was convicted 11 years ago for helping Zumba instructor Alexis Wright run a prostitution business in Kennebunk. Police say the women in Rockland, forced into this, won't be charged.

"None of them have been detained or arrested. We have provided resources to help them," Gaylor said.

Rockland Police believe this prostitution business was run by organized crime.

"The business here in Rockland is part of several across the state. And our law enforcement partners in other towns and cities have addressed the problems in their jurisdictions. They made some arrests. There are some investigations still ongoing," Gaylor said.

Gaylor says they're working with Homeland Security and the Border Patrol to find those responsible for human trafficking in Maine.

"The end goal is to go after the people perpetrating these crimes, trafficking these women and putting them in these situations," Gaylor said.

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