A former Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball assistant coach was one of four people arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution. The arrest was part of a roundup of suspects accused of being connected with three illicit massage parlors in northwest Dallas. Former Lions assistant coach Josip Maric was arrested along with Yenrudee Anuson in Commerce at a house in the 2800 block of Bois d’Arc Street last night. The other two suspects were arrested in Lewisville and in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the three fake massage establishments are suspected of hosting not just prostitution, but also human trafficking. Photographs taken inside the building near Interstate 35E and Royal Lane show mattresses and other personal items, suggesting that the women who worked there were also housed there.
Maric was hired as an assistant men’s basketball coach in the summer of 2017 and fired this week. The university released statement on the incident:
"Today, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Police Department cooperated in a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional investigation that included the serving of a search and arrest warrant on an employee of the university. This individual’s employment has been terminated. This is an ongoing investigation, led by another agency, thus we have no other information to share at this time," the statement said.
Maric, 42, and Anuson, 44, were taken into custody, along with several unidentified people at the Dallas businesses: Jasmine, Passion X, and Charming, all located at 11309 Emerald Street. The Dallas Morning News reported Maric as the owner of Charming, which also operated under the name Blue Star. The newspaper also reported that Passion X and Jasmine owner Pornthipa Khan, 54, was arrested in Honolulu on Wednesday. Steven Eiz, 53, was arrested in Lewisville, but his alleged connection to the operations was not described. All were charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution, a second-degree felony in Texas.
Dallas police said that some of those apprehended at the Emerald Street building are suspected of being trafficking victims, and will be provided with support services as needed.
