CLEVELAND – The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging 61-year-old Jianling Li, 52-year-old Jinglian Liu, 33-year-old Mengchao Chen, and 48-year-old Yi Mei Lu for several charges including Engaging In A Pattern Of Corrupt Activity and Promoting Prostitution at multiple spas and apartments in Ohio.

“This indictment is the result of outstanding collaboration among law enforcement agencies across Ohio and our federal partners. Through this collaboration, a criminal enterprise operating across multiple communities will be brought to justice.”

– Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

In coordination with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation was conducted by the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force, Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, Summit Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the U.S. Secret Service – Money Laundering Task Force, and the U.S. Border Patrol, which revealed that Jianling Li, Jinglian Liu, Mengchao Chen, and Yi Mei Lu, were involved in establishing and running massage parlor businesses and brothels where sexual activity for hire occurred since 2022.

The Human Trafficking Task Forces are organized under the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission.

A search warrant was executed at Beechmont Towers Apartments in Woodmere and Bridlewood Apartments in North Olmsted, as well as Blue Spa in Lorain, Rose Spa and Health Spa in Akron, and Sakura Spa and Belmont Apartments in Columbus, which revealed further signs of participating in the business of prostitution and fraud.

The investigation further revealed the enterprise advertised the illegal business operations, which included sexually suggestive photographs of young women and sexual services offered. To facilitate the illegal conduct, the organization engaged in numerous acts of money laundering by using multiple bank accounts, casinos, witting and un-witting third-party accounts, and other financial schemes. Over $37,000 was frozen in various bank accounts, and over $181,000 in cash was seized.

On October 1, 2026, Jianling Li, Jinglian Liu, Mengchao Chen and Yi Mei Lu were indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Engaging in a Patter of Corrupt Activity (F1)
  • Two counts of Conspiracy (F2)
  • Seven counts of Promoting Prostitution (F4)
  • Seven counts of Telecommunications Fraud (F2)
  • Two counts of Identity Fraud (F3)
  • Nine counts of Possessing Criminal Tools (F5)
  • Six counts of Money Laundering (F3)

Additionally, Jinglian Liu was indicted on:

  • Two counts of Soliciting (M3)