EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging two Chinese nationals with offenses related to operating illicit massage businesses in southern Illinois and Indiana.
Jianhong Hu Allbright, 57, of Shoals, Indiana, and Yalong Cao, 25, of Schaumburg, Illinois, are each facing one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. and one count of money laundering conspiracy related to employees engaging in prostitution at the Oriental Home Spa & Massage in Centralia, Sunflower Spa in Mount Vernon, Rose Spa in Harrisburg, Oasis Massage Spa in Vandalia and Oriental Massage Parlor in Corydon, Indiana.
Allbright is also facing one count of transporting an individual to engage in prostitution.
“Massage parlors engaged in prostitution are not the romanticized fantasy from the movie “Pretty Woman”—they are criminal enterprises that create and exploit financial dependency to trap immigrants and others, coercing them into degrading subjugation,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute sex trafficking and work to vindicate the rights of vulnerable victims across southern Illinois.”
According to court documents, the charged conduct occurred between March 2022 and June 2024 at five massage parlors in southern Illinois and Indiana.
“The Illinois State Police commitment to fighting human trafficking is unwavering,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “We are dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable, pursuing traffickers with every available resource, and working hand in hand with our partners to dismantle the networks that exploit human lives. This is not just law enforcement—it’s a moral obligation.”
Allbright is accused of managing the parlors’ day-to-day operations including arranging transportation and providing supplies for the female employees to engage in commercial sex acts.
“HSI will not tolerate criminals who exploits vulnerable women under the guise of legitimate business,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “We will continue working side by side with our law enforcement partners to dismantle trafficking networks and hold offenders accountable.”
Cao is facing charges for allegedly recruiting employees to engage in prostitution and collecting the proceeds.
“IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is committed to tracing money trails to the door of anyone involved in human trafficking,” said IRS-CI St. Louis Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Partnering with other law enforcement agencies to destroy these networks is a top priority for our agency.”
The pair are accused of advertising the illicit acts at their massage parlors on websites.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Money laundering conspiracy convictions are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $500,000. Convictions of transporting an individual to engage in prostitution are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000, and convictions for conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. are punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
The Illinois State Police Trafficking Enforcement Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Illinois Department of Revenue are working the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia Rajagopal is prosecuting the case.
