五家按摩店成卖淫掩护：两名中国籍经营者各判24个月
美国司法部伊利诺伊南区联邦检察官办公室（USAO）宣布，在伊利诺伊州 Franklin 县 Benton 市的联邦法院，两名中国籍被告 Yalong Cao（27岁）与 Jianhong Hu Allbright（58岁）因经营以按摩店为掩护、由员工从事商业性交易的非法生意，各被判处24个月联邦监禁。两人此前已分别就一项共谋侵害美国罪与一项洗钱罪认罪。
据法院文件，两人经营的五家店分别是 Harrisburg 的 Rose Spa、Centralia 的 Oriental Home Spa & Massage、Mt. Vernon 的 Sunflower Spa、Vandalia 的 Oasis Massage Spa，以及印第安纳州 Corydon 的 Oriental Massage Parlor。被控行为至少从2022年3月持续到2024年6月，法院文件称两人通过这些生意收取了逾2.5万美元。
认罪内容显示，Allbright 负责这些生意的日常运营，包括为女员工安排交通、提供从事商业性交易所需的用品；Cao 则负责招募员工并收取卖淫所得。两人还承认曾在网上为这些卖淫生意打广告。上述生意与个体按摩师均未取得伊利诺伊州金融与专业监管部或印第安纳州专业执照局的执照。
联邦检察官 Steven D. Weinhoeft 表示，该办公室的人口贩运工作由助理联邦检察官团队推动，本案动用了包括洗钱指控在内的各种工具——这类指控在非法按摩店案件中并不典型——最终换来两项联邦监禁判决，并保护了原本可能继续受困于这类运营的受害者。
伊利诺伊州警察局局长 Brendan F. Kelly 表示，人口贩运是最难调查与起诉的犯罪之一，这两项判决是一次重要胜利。国税局刑事调查局（IRS-CI）特别探员主管 William Steenson 指出，与人口贩运相连的资金活动会留下清晰可追踪的痕迹。国土安全调查局（HSI）芝加哥特别探员主管 Matthew Scarpino 表示，执法伙伴将继续揭露助长商业性交易的网络、追踪维系其运转的资金。
此案由伊利诺伊州警察局贩运执法局、国土安全调查局、国税局刑事调查局与伊利诺伊州税务局共同调查，助理联邦检察官 Karelia Rajagopal 负责起诉。
Two Chinese Nationals Each Sentenced to 24 Months for Operating Illicit Massage Businesses in Southern Illinois
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced that Yalong Cao, 27, and Jianhong Hu Allbright, 58, both Chinese nationals, were each sentenced to 24 months in federal prison in Benton, Franklin County, Illinois, for operating massage parlors whose employees performed commercial sex acts. Both had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and one count of money laundering.
According to court documents, the five locations were 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. The charged conduct ran from at least March 2022 through June 2024, and court documents state the pair received more than $25,000 through the businesses.
Allbright admitted managing day-to-day operations, including arranging transportation and providing supplies for the female employees to engage in commercial sex acts. Cao facilitated operations by recruiting employees and collecting proceeds from the prostitution. The pair also admitted placing online advertisements for the businesses. Neither the businesses nor the individual masseuses were licensed in Illinois or Indiana.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said the office's human trafficking work used every available tool in this investigation, including money laundering charges not typical for an illicit massage business case, resulting in two federal prison sentences and protection for victims. Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly called the sentences a significant victory, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Steenson said financial activity tied to human trafficking leaves a clear and traceable trail, and Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino said law enforcement partners will continue to expose networks that facilitate commercial sex.
The Illinois State Police Trafficking Enforcement Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Illinois Department of Revenue contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia Rajagopal prosecuted the case.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：美国司法部罗伯特·肯尼迪大楼（GSM固定图库，APK，CC BY 4.0）：两名被告无官方照片，以司法部大楼为兜底图
