Two Chinese nationals have been sentenced to federal prison for operating illegal massage parlors in Southern Illinois and Indiana where employees performed commercial sex acts.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, 27-year-old Yalong Cao and 58-year-old Jianhong Hu Allbright each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and one count of money laundering.
Both defendants were sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
Court documents indicate the two operated several massage parlors that served as fronts for illegal prostitution operations.
The businesses included Rose Spa in Harrisburg, Oriental Home Spa & Massage in Centralia, Sunflower Spa in Mt. Vernon, Oasis Massage Spa in Vandalia, and Oriental Massage Parlor in Corydon, Indiana.
Federal prosecutors said the illegal activities occurred from at least March 2022 through June 2024.
According to court records, Allbright managed the day-to-day operations of the businesses, including arranging transportation and providing supplies for female employees who engaged in commercial sex acts.
Cao was responsible for recruiting employees and collecting proceeds from the prostitution operations. Both defendants admitted to placing online advertisements promoting the illegal businesses.
Investigators determined the pair received more than $25,000 through the operations.
Federal officials also confirmed that neither the businesses nor the individual masseuses were properly licensed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said the investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of using financial crimes to prosecute individuals involved in exploitation.
“This work has resulted in two federal prison sentences, and it has protected victims who would otherwise have remained trapped in these operations,” Weinhoeft said.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly described human trafficking as one of the most challenging crimes to investigate and prosecute, calling the sentences a significant victory for law enforcement.
Officials with IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations also emphasized the importance of following financial transactions to identify and prosecute those profiting from illegal operations.
The investigation involved the Illinois State Police Trafficking Enforcement Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia Rajagopal prosecuted the case.