2 involved in sex operation sentenced

PERKINS TWP. — A Milan Road (U.S. 250) massage parlor appears to be vacant following a police raid about a year and a half ago. Top Relax Massage at 4004 Milan Road was one of several Ohio locations targeted by law enforcement on July 31, 2019, as a part of a commercial sex trafficking sting. Perkins police began investigating the massage parlor in 2015 and later located evidence of sex acts being performed at the business, police previously told the Register. In this July 31, 2019, file photo, a police officer walks in front of Top Relax Massage, 4004 Milan Road, during a search warrant of the Perkins Township business. Register file photo Since the raid, three individuals with ties to the business have been prosecuted, or are currently being prosecuted, in Cuyahoga County: •Jia Yue Dong, 44, of Brunswick, Ohio, was the proprietor at the Top Relax Massage and appears to have ties to other Ohio locations raided by police the same day. Jia Yue Dong Provided/OHIO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - Dong pleaded guilty to counts of attempted engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, promoting prostitution, money laundering, worker's compensation fraud, practicing medicine or surgery without a certificate, according to Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas records. - He was sentenced Oct. 30, 2020, on those charges and received a two-year prison sentence, according to Ohio's department of corrections. As a part of his sentence, Dong will have to register as a sex offender. - Dong filed a motion for early prison release on Jan. 19; it doesn't appear that a judge has yet ruled on that motion. • Jason Van Winkle, 45, of Lorain, allegedly helped operate the business. Van Winkle pleaded guilty in July 2020 to procuring a prostitute for another, possessing criminal tools and falsification, and was sentenced to one year of probation, Cuyahoga County court records state. • Xiaolan Hu, 54, of 4004 Milan Road, is someone police said lived and worked at the business. Hu was indicted on counts of promoting prostitution and soliciting. Hu pleaded not guilty at an initial hearing in 2019. She has a final pretrial hearing scheduled for March 29 and a trial set for April 28, according to court records. The massage parlor seems to be vacant. Paper can be seen taped over the business' door and windows. The address, 4004 Milan Road, which has a listed owner with a Norwalk address, is a commercial building with two separate units, according to information from the Erie County auditor. The tenant in building's other unit is a tax preparation office.