The Delaware Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit has indicted three individuals with running a ring of illicit massage establishments, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today

“Some people assume human trafficking only happens on the other side of the world, but the reality is that it is right in our backyard — and cases like these are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Attorney General Jennings. “I’m grateful to the prosecutors and law enforcement who continue to aggressively pursue traffickers and to support the victims of these atrocities.”

“Human trafficking is a continuing epidemic that brings challenges not only to the United States of America but countries across the globe,” said Colonel Melissa Zebley, the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “Locally, the Delaware State Police is working tirelessly with the Delaware Department of Justice and other law enforcement allies to identify and combat human trafficking by aggressively investigating individuals and businesses who prey upon unsuspecting victims.”

On February 27, a New Castle County grand jury charged Xui Li Kong, 57, Jing Zhang, 40, and Hua Li, 59, with one count each of Criminal Racketeering, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Racketeering, Human Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution 3^rdDegree, Money Laundering, Conspiracy 2^ndDegree, Criminal Nuisance, and Operating a Massage Establishment without a License.  

Additionally, Kong was indicted on two counts of Insurance Fraud, one count of Theft, and one count of Tax Evasion.  Zhang was indicted on an additional count of Tax Evasion.  Li was indicted on one count of Failure to File a Return.

The indictment alleges that from March 2020 to February 2023, the trio, along with unindicted co-conspirators, operated a ring of illicit massage establishments in the North Wilmington and greater Newark areas.  Search warrants executed at several locations — Kong and Zhang’s personal residence on Ballymeade Drive in Wilmington, Bloom Head-to-Toe at 2610 Kirkwood Highway in Newark, Rainbow 7 Spa at 610 Capitol Trail in Newark, and Royal 7 Spa at 785 Pulaski Highway — revealed that female victims were living at the establishments in closed quarters and unsanitary living conditions. The victims were made to perform sexual services on male clients, and work long hours, 7 days a week as part of their job duties.  

The investigation further determined that Kong had applied for unemployment through the Department of Labor and was awarded over $25,000 in unemployment payments while alleging that one of the businesses, Bloom Head-to-Toe, was closed because of the pandemic.  Bank records subsequently showed that the business was in fact open and operating.  In addition, Kong had applied for Medicaid through the Department of Health and Social Services and had been approved based on her alleged income meeting the threshold of being under $18,075.00 per year.

The investigation revealed that during the period of time covered in the indictment the organization made over $300,000 in cash deposits across multiple personal bank accounts.  These cash deposits are in addition to credit card receipts and cash deposits into the business accounts for each establishment. Kong and her husband, Zhang, are alleged to have evaded taxes by not claiming appropriate income on their personal tax returns in relation to the establishments.  Li did not file any tax returns for this period.

As part of the investigation, the Department of Justice and Delaware State Police executed multiple search warrants on associated banks that froze over $200,000 in suspected illegal proceeds from the businesses.  In addition, a Racketeering Lien was signed and filed with the Court as part of the indictment, which places a lien on Kong and Zhang’s property at 122 Ballymeade Drive.

This indictment was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Michael Cooksey and Caroline Brittingham of the DOJ’s Human Trafficking Unit.  The investigation was a collaborative effort between members of the DOJ, the Delaware State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wilmington Police Department, and members of the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation. 

A Magnolia man has pleaded guilty to two counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct Against a Child and two counts of Human Trafficking a Minor. George Curtis, 31, was arrested following an investigation that found that he, while serving as the photographer for an illicit photoshoot prearranged on social media, repeatedly made unwanted sexual contact with the victim, eventually raping her and uploading footage of the assault to the internet 52 times, advertising the victim for sexual services. The convictions are Class B Felonies and Curtis faces a minimum of 12 years in prison to a maximum of 100 years in prison at sentencing.

SMYRNA (April 2, 2020) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing one additional fatality related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is providing an update on the number of positive and recovered cases reported in the state.

In total, 12 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. There have been a total of six deaths related to long-term care facilities, including five in New Castle County (four at Little Sisters of the Poor) and one in Sussex County. The most recent details involving long-term care facilities include:

• a 75-year-old male from New Castle County who had underlying health conditions before passing; and
• The third outbreak of positive coronavirus cases at a long-term care facility. The latest outbreak involves the Governor Bacon Health System, an intermediate-skilled nursing facility operated by Delaware Department of Health and Social Services in Delaware City, which has one staff member and one resident who have tested positive for COVID-19.

To protect personal health information, DPH will not disclose additional information about the individuals who passed away, nor will DPH confirm specific information about any individual case, even if other persons or entities disclose it independently.

The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics, cumulatively since March 11, include:

• 393 total laboratory-confirmed cases
• New Castle County cases: 245
• Kent County cases: 43
• Sussex County cases: 105
• Males: 179; Females: 214
• Age range: 1 to 97
• Hospitalized: 56; Critically ill: 15
• Delawareans recovered: 49
• 4,566 negative cases*

*Data on negative cases are preliminary, based on negative results reported to DPH by state and commercial laboratories performing analysis.

Delaware is considering patients fully recovered seven days after the resolution of their symptoms. Three days after symptoms resolve, patients are no longer required to self-isolate at home; however, they must continue to practice strict social distancing for the remaining four days before returning to their normal daily routine.

If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle fatigue, or digestive symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or lack of appetite. If you are sick and need essential supplies, ask someone else to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy to get what you need.

If you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, make sure to distance yourself from others, particularly vulnerable populations. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions – including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment – might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Statewide testing at standing health facility testing sites require a physician’s order or prescription to be tested (*Bayhealth patients will be pre-screened via phone without needing to see a provider first). These are not walk-in testing sites. Those without a primary care provider can call the DPH Call Center Line at 1-866-408-1899. Individuals awaiting test results, should wait to hear back from their medical provider. The DPH Call Center does not have test results.

Delawareans with general questions about COVID-19 or their exposure risk can call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899, or 711 for individuals who are hearing-impaired, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Anderson secured a guilty plea and prison sentence for a man wanted for a shooting in Seaford, arrested while police were investigating illegal drug activity in Bridgeville. Teron West, 33, of Seaford, was arrested in July 2019, when members of the Delaware State Police Sussex County Governor’s Task Force executed a search warrant at a home in the 200 block of Main Street in Bridgeville. Police found West, who provided them with a false name, and also discovered large quantities of drugs, including more than 50 grams of cocaine. Once getting his proper identification, officers learned West had been on the run since the previous November when he fired several shots at the vehicle of a man he was fighting with on Park Drive in Seaford. West, barred from having a gun because of prior felony drug convictions, pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Drug Dealing, and Criminal Impersonation. A Superior Court judge sentenced West to 18 months in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 1 year of probation.