Two individuals face federal charges in Southern Illinois massage parlor investigation

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KBSI) — A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and promoting prostitution in connection with a network of illicit massage parlors in southern Illinois and Indiana.

Jianhong Hu Allbright, 57, of Shoals, Indiana, and Yalong Cao, 25, of Schaumburg, Illinois, are accused of operating massage parlors that served as fronts for commercial sex acts, including locations in Mount Vernon and Harrisburg.

The indictment alleges that the illegal activity occurred between March 2022 and June 2024. Allbright is accused of overseeing day-to-day operations and arranging transportation for workers, while Cao is accused of recruiting employees for prostitution and handling the proceeds.

The investigation was led by the Illinois State Police, Homeland Security, the IRS and other federal agencies.

If convicted, the suspects face up to 20 years in prison on some of the charges.