What neighbors had long suspected about Sunflower Spa in Symmes Township is now official: two people are headed to prison for running an illegal prostitution ring out of the strip-mall business on Loveland‑Madeira Road. Prosecutors say the operation took cash for sex acts and quietly pushed hundreds of thousands of dollars through multiple bank accounts, all while a multi-agency investigation unfolded as early as June 2023.
As reported by WKRC Local 12, Yinliu Shi and Zhiguo Zhang pleaded guilty and were each handed two-year prison sentences. The outlet also noted that a third alleged co-conspirator, Pingwei Cheng, remains at large.
Months-long probe shut down the spa
A months-long investigation shut the doors of Sunflower Spa and led to Shi's arrest in December 2025, with prosecutors filing charges that included promoting prostitution, money laundering, telecommunications fraud and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, according to WLWT. Officials told WLWT the probe pulled in the Hamilton County Sheriff's Organized Crime Section, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, the governor's Human Trafficking Task Force, the Ohio Bureau of Investigation and the State Medical Board, with the Salvation Army offering support.
Prosecutors alleged Shi transported women to hotels and shifted money between accounts as part of the broader scheme, using the spa as a hub while the investigation quietly built in the background.
Neighbors had raised concerns for years
Local business owners and residents told WCPO that the spa raised eyebrows almost from day one. The Salvation Army said it stood ready to assist anyone who might have been at risk inside the operation.
Earlier coverage of the closure and arrest highlighted the same multi-agency crackdown described by local officials. Community members told reporters they hope the stiff enforcement sends a message that similar operations will not simply pop back up down the road.
Alleged money flows and timeline
Prosecutors told WKRC Local 12 the illicit business funneled "hundreds of thousands" of dollars through multiple bank accounts, with criminal activity stretching back to at least June 2023. The two-year prison terms are the latest step in an investigation that authorities say has been unfolding for more than two years.
What’s next
Authorities say they are still looking for Pingwei Cheng and working with partner agencies to identify potential victims and follow the money trail, WCPO reported. For now, Sunflower Spa remains closed while law enforcement keeps an eye on the area for any attempt to revive the operation under a new name.
