Ventura County prosecutors announced Wednesday that a jury convicted four members of the Ma family and an associate for running a countywide commercial sex operation hidden behind legitimate‑looking massage parlors. The case, investigated since 2020 after anonymous tips about suspected prostitution and human trafficking, demonstrates the district attorney’s commitment to protecting vulnerable women and holding traffickers accountable.
Ringleader and co‑defendants
According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Xiangwei Ma was identified as the ringleader. She, her husband Ming Ma, her brother Xiangdong Ma, her sister Li Ma, and an unrelated man, Jaime Calderon, worked together to recruit and exploit foreign‑national women from China, presenting the massage businesses as lawful enterprises.
Criminal conduct
The operation spanned more than a decade, generating “substantial proceeds” that the conspirators attempted to conceal through a web of financial institutions, life‑insurance policies, casino transactions, and real‑estate deals. Prosecutors said the family used “straw” owners to hide Xiangwei Ma’s involvement in business and property ownership, including a residence on Crowne Oak Lane that listed Calderon as the buyer.
Charges included pimping, mortgage fraud, and multiple counts of money laundering. Xiangwei Ma previously pled guilty to attempted pandering in Los Angeles County and served an 18‑month prison sentence before resuming leadership of the Ventura County operation.
Sentencing schedule
All four Ma family members were remanded into custody after their guilty verdicts. Xiangwei Ma of Simi Valley faces a sentencing hearing on Oct. 23, 2026, where she could receive up to 17 years in state prison. Xiangdong Ma of Hacienda Heights is also scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026, with a potential 13‑year term. Li Ma of Oxnard will be sentenced on Nov. 2, 2026, facing up to eight years and eight months. Ming Ma of Oxnard is set for a Nov. 4, 2026 sentencing, with a possible 11 years and four months.
Community response
Senior Deputy District Attorney Rikole Kelly thanked jurors for their careful deliberation and praised the victim’s courage in testifying despite fear. “We also recognize the investigators whose years of persistent work brought this case to justice,” Kelly said.
The convictions send a clear message that Ventura County will use the full weight of its law‑enforcement resources to combat human trafficking and protect the dignity of all residents.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
