4 Charged In Suffolk Prostitution, Money Laundering Ring: PD

CENTEREACH, NY — Four women were arrested and accused of operating a prostitution and money laundering enterprise in Suffolk County, according to District Attorney Timothy Sini.

"What is unique about this investigation is that historically, investigations into illicit massage parlors often result in the arrest of workers during raids," Sini said in a statement. "What we have here is a different approach: one that gets to the root of the problem by targeting the leadership of the criminal organization behind these establishments and dismantling that enterprise from the top. This alleged criminal network made hundreds of thousands of dollars off the backs of the women they employed while putting the health of those workers and the community at risk, and deteriorating the quality of life in these neighborhoods."

The four arrested are:

• JianXin You, also known as "Lucy" or "Yo-Yo," 56, of Manhattan
• Li Fang, also known as "Baby," 38, of Flushing
• Guang Xu, also known as "Salina" or "Sanlina," 46, of Flushing
• JinYe Wu, also known as "Linda," 35, of Brooklyn

In 2018, Sini said authorities began investigating prostitution activity at two massage parlors in Centereach, one at 1442 Middle Country Road and another at 2661 Middle Country Road. You and her associates promoted prostitution at the parlors by procuring female workers, soliciting patrons, and profiting from the prostitution operation, prosecutors said.

The women laundered the proceeds in various ways, including depositing cash into a business account in the name of "New Green Aroma Spa Inc." to pay for expenses associated with the illegal operation; remitting large sums of money to other peoples' accounts; purchasing property; and exchanging the proceeds for foreign currencies, according to Sini.

On Tuesday, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at six locations in connection with the scheme, including the two locations in Centereach, authorities said. The massage parlors were closed, officials said. The search warrants resulted in the recovery of two ghost guns, which were seized from a private home, as well as more than $250,000 cash, prosecutors said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations was involved in the investigation.

"Homeland Security Investigations is committed to working closely with our state, local, and federal partners to ensure we identify and hold to account those who seek to profit from illegal schemes based on the exploitation of women," said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Homeland Security Investigations New York special agent in charge. "These arrests are a direct result of interagency cooperation and a testament to our combined resolve to prevent future harm to potential victims of these heinous crimes."

The defendants were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Suffolk County First District Court.

You was charged with enterprise corruption (a class B felony), second-degree money laundering (a class C felony), two counts of third-degree money laundering (a class D felony), fourth-degree conspiracy (a class E felony) and fifth-degree conspiracy (a class A misdemeanor).

Fang was charged with enterprise corruption (a class B felony) and fifth-degree conspiracy (a class A misdemeanor).

Xu was charged with enterprise corruption (a class B felony) and fifth-degree conspiracy (a class A misdemeanor).

Wu, also known as "Linda," 35, of Brooklyn, was charged with third-degree promoting prostitution (a class D felony).

If convicted of the top count, You, Fang and Xu each face a maximum sentence of eight to 25 years in prison. If convicted, Wu faces a maximum sentence of two to seven years in prison.