Giant Teddy Bear Stuffed With $600K: New Jersey Police Uncover...

Cops found $600,000 stashed in a Teddy Bear during a massage parlor raid...

Largest Asset Seizure in Township History

Authorities in Edison, New Jersey, carried out what they're calling the township’s largest asset seizure ever following a raid on a massage parlor suspected of being a front for prostitution and money laundering. During the operation, police uncovered more than $750,000 in assets, including $600,000 in cash hidden inside a giant stuffed teddy bear.

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The yearlong undercover investigation, led by the Edison Police Department’s Vice Unit, focused on Bliss Spa on Woodbridge Avenue and the nearby home of the spa’s manager, 47-year-old Daniela Diienno.

Cash, Tesla, Rolex, and More Seized

In addition to the massive amount of cash, authorities also seized a brand-new 2025 Tesla Model Y, a Rolex watch, and a Cartier timepiece. Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan stated that when combined with funds recovered from Diienno’s bank accounts, the total value of assets reached $754,373.

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Diienno now faces several charges, including first-degree money laundering, promoting organized street crime, and maintaining a house of prostitution. She is being held at Middlesex County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing.

Four other women from New Jersey and New York, ranging in age from 26 to 45, were also charged with engaging in or soliciting prostitution and released on summonses.

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Crackdown on Illicit Businesses

The business license for Bliss Spa has been suspended after the location was cited for multiple health code violations. Mayor Samip Joshi praised the collaborative effort between local and state departments, saying Edison has become a model for the state in tackling illegal massage parlors.

Since 2022, the township has closed 19 spas and tightened its licensing policies. Joshi emphasized that the cooperation between police, zoning officials, prosecutors, and health inspectors has helped make the community safer.

“This case shows just how organized and profitable these criminal enterprises can be — and how committed we are to shutting them down,” said Chief Bryan.