MISSOULA, MT — Yanbin Bao was sentenced Tuesday in Missoula District Court to just under 10 years in prison following her conviction on multiple felony counts of sex and labor trafficking.
Bao, who owned Soul Massage — described by prosecutors as an illicit commercial massage parlor — was found guilty by a jury on four counts of sex trafficking and one count of labor trafficking. The case marks the first large-scale sex and labor trafficking prosecution by the Missoula County Attorney’s Office.
The investigation began in late May 2023 after a victim, identified only as “Jane Doe,” contacted police alleging physical assault by Bao and her husband, Richard Bushey, at the Soul Massage location. Statements from Jane Doe, combined with reports of “deplorable conditions” at the business, led law enforcement to suspect human trafficking activity.
Missoula County Sheriff’s Office detectives later identified three victims trafficked by Bao between April 26 and May 29 of 2023. The investigation uncovered a pattern of recruitment and exploitation consistent with sex and labor trafficking.
In addition to the prison sentence, Bao was fined $10,000 and prohibited from opening any new businesses without prior approval from a probation officer.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Missoula law enforcement and prosecutors to combat human trafficking in the region.
