VERO BEACH — Two Sebastian residents suspected of being part of a group that operated human trafficking rings at local spas took plea deals, allowing prosecutors to agree to drop racketeering charges against the individuals, court records show.
A law enforcement investigation led to more than 100 arrests in February, including the spa operators and men who participated in the sex acts, officials said. The spas where authorities said the acts took place were East Spa, 2345 14th Ave., Vero Beach, East Spa, 1410A Gene St., Winter Park, Rainbow Spa, 1809-2, E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, East Sea Spa, 13401 U.S. 1, Sebastian and AA Massage, 1547 U.S. 1, Sebastian.
Yan Xu, 52, was originally charged with racketeering, engaging in prostitution and deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, court records show. Friday, Xu pled no contest to engaging in prostitution.
Kenneth Zullo, 65, was initially charged with conducting in an enterprise through pattern of racketeering. Monday, Zullo pled no contest to a lesser charge – transporting people for purpose of engaging in prostitution – court records show.
As part of the deal, prosecutors agreed to drop any other charges – including racketeering – against Xu and Zullo, records show. The agreement did not require Zullo and Xu to testify against anyone, but that does not exclude the pair from being called for testimony, state prosecutor Ryan Butler said.
Friday, Xu was sentenced for engaging in prostitution and was given credit for 100 days served in jail.
Xu was released Friday since she served more than the 60-day maximum for the charge, Butler said. Xu was ordered to pay nearly $24,000 in fines and court costs, records show.
Xu will also have to undergo testing for any sexually transmitted diseases. It was unknown if Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be involved.
Zullo was ordered to pay nearly $13,000 in fines and court costs, records show. Zullo, who was released on bond between $100,000 and $150,000 two days after his arrest, was given credit for two days served in jail, according to Butler.
Zullo does not face any additional jail time, Butler said.
Authorities said Xu engaged in several sex acts in exchange for money at the spas between November and December 2018. Butler said Zullo would transport the victims to and from the different spas in the area so the victims could engage in prostitution.
Two others who were employed at the spas – Yaping Ren, 27, Orlando, and Junhua Dong, 50, Vero Beach – remain at the Indian River County Jail, Butler said. Lanyun Ma, 49, Orlando, who managed three of the spas, has since bailed out of jail on $150,000 bond.
Law enforcement was still looking for two others involved – Lanfen Ma, 43, Orlando, and Peixia Zhang, 47, of Vero Beach.