CONCORD – Ken Duc Ma, 60, of Exeter, was sentenced in federal court to four months in prison for promoting and managing an establishment for the purpose of prostitution, U.S. Attorney Scott Murray said.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ma owned and managed businesses in Exeter and Salem. These businesses purported to provide massage services to clients, but also offered sexual services in exchange for money. Investigators conducted surveillance of the businesses and observed that they were frequented exclusively by male customers. On various occasions, after observing customers leave the businesses, investigators approached the customers and inquired about the services they received. Customers of each of the three businesses reported that they had paid cash in exchange for sexual services.

The defendant pleaded guilty Jan. 3. His sentence of incarceration will be followed by three years of supervised release. As part of his sentence, Ma will forfeit $186,466, as well as land and buildings located in Plaistow, to the government.

“The defendant in this case profited from illegal conduct that exploited women,” Murray said. “His prison sentence and substantial forfeiture of property should serve as a deterrent to others who would seek to exploit women for economic gain. I am grateful for the work of the multi-jurisdictional investigative team whose efforts brought this defendant to justice.”