CLEVELAND — A Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment against 11 people who are facing multiple charges connected to alleged prostitution and money laundering at four spas in Cuyahoga and Lake counties.
“A search warrant was executed at New Hi Spa in Strongsville, Helen Foot Spa in Middleburg Heights, Flexology Spa in Willowick, and Green Spa in Mentor, which revealed further signs of participating in the business of prostitution of women and money laundering,” according to a press release from the prosecutor's office.
Details released by the prosecutor’s office on Thursday allege the 11 people “were involved in establishing and running massage parlor businesses where sexual activity for hire occurred from June 2020 to August 2022.”
“This investigation pulled back the curtain on these so-called massage parlors and exposed those who were exploiting victims and laundering the money,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “These cases require law enforcement at all levels, working unconventional hours across multiple jurisdictions -- which is exactly why the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission exists.”
Below is a list of the suspects and the charges for each…
Jujuan Tao was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- Five counts of Promoting Prostitution
- Eight counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Fraudulent Actions Concerning A Tax Return
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Jianwen Chen was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- One count of Promoting Prostitution
- Six counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Duoxiu Yang was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- Four counts of Promoting Prostitution
- Six counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Jin Lian Chen was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- Two counts of Promoting Prostitution
- Eight counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Yixiu Chen was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- One count of Promoting Prostitution
- Six counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Joseph Scherer was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- Two counts of Promoting Prostitution
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Michael Johnson was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- Three counts of Promoting Prostitution
- Two counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Zhichen Fang was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- One count of Promoting Prostitution
- Two counts of Money Laundering
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Quin Wang was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- One count of Promoting Prostitution
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Ling Lin was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- Two counts of Promoting Prostitution
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
Ai Hua Chen was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity
- One count of Conspiracy
- One count of Promoting Prostitution
- One count of Possessing Criminal Tools
If you or someone you know has been a victim of human trafficking or have any information related to this case, authorities ask that you call 216-443-6085.
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated crime story on Jan. 19, 2023.
