CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging Jujuan Tao, 48, Jianwen Chen, 37, Duoxiu Yang, 42, Jin Lian Chen, 49, Yixiu Chen, 46, Joseph Scherer, 43, Michael Johnson, 59, Zhichen Fang, 52, Quin Wang, 38, Ling Lin, 43, and Ai Hua Chen, 41, for several charges including promoting prostitution and money laundering at four local spas in Cuyahoga and Lake County.
“I am incredibly proud of the 17 law enforcement agencies that worked together on this case,” said Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley. “Human trafficking has no borders and through our collaboration, this enterprise was brought to an end stopping these individuals from endangering Northeast Ohio and continuing their corrupt operation. None of the individuals indicted were the victims of this human trafficking ring.”
“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.”
"This criminal enterprise involved numerous individuals that took advantage of victims in multiple communities,” said Interim Cuyahoga County Sheriff Steven Hammett. “The hours, manpower, and collaboration between all agencies involved was remarkable and proves that justice will always prevail."
An investigation conducted by the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force (NOHTTF) in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service Money Laundering Task Force, Strongsville Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Lake County Prosecutor's Office, Lake County Narcotics Agency, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Medical Board revealed that Jujuan Tao, Jianwen Chen, Duoxiu Yang, Jin Lian Chen, Yixiu Chen, Joseph Scherer, Michael Johnson, Zhichen Fang, Quin Wang, Ling Lin, and Ai Hua Chen were involved in establishing and running massage parlor businesses where sexual activity for hire occurred from June 2020 to August 2022.
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.
The investigation remains ongoing.
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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
On February 8, 2023, 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