NEW CASTLE, DE — A coordinated nationwide anti-human trafficking operation led to multiple arrests and the identification of potential victims in New Castle County, according to police.
Police reported that on Thursday, April 23, detectives with the New Castle County Division of Police participated in Operation Coast to Coast, a multi-agency enforcement effort involving more than 250 law enforcement agencies across 30 states.
According to investigators, the operation aimed to identify victims, apprehend suspected traffickers and sex buyers, and seize criminal proceeds. Authorities reported that nationwide efforts resulted in the identification of 129 victims, including 11 minors, along with dozens of arrests and the seizure of more than $500,000 in assets.
In New Castle County, detectives received information that sexual acts were allegedly being offered in exchange for money at two locations: TH Rainbow Spa in the 2300 block of Carpenter Station Road in Wilmington and Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa in the 1900 block of Capitol Trail in Newark.
Police said a search warrant was executed in the morning at TH Rainbow Spa, where Mei Chen, 44, of Wilmington, was identified as the owner and taken into custody.
According to police, Chen was charged with promoting prostitution, money laundering, practicing massage therapy without a license, and criminal nuisance. Authorities reported she was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution after failing to post $15,002 cash bail.
During the same investigation, police said Matthew Tamayo, 36, of Aston, Pennsylvania, was located at the business and taken into custody. He was charged with patronizing a prostitute and later released on $1,000 unsecured bail, according to investigators.
Police reported that more than $9,600 in U.S. currency and a vehicle were seized during the search.
Authorities said a second search warrant was executed later that day at Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, where Li Shi, 56, of Newark, was identified as the owner and taken into custody.
According to investigators, Shi was charged with promoting prostitution, money laundering, operating an unlicensed massage establishment, and criminal nuisance. Police reported she was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution after failing to post $31,000 cash bail.
Police said additional search warrants were executed at a residence in Newark connected to the investigation, where officers recovered more than $25,000 in cash, gold and silver bars and coins valued at tens of thousands of dollars, high-end jewelry, two vehicles, approximately 36 grams of marijuana, and a .38-caliber handgun with ammunition.
During that search, investigators reported that a 17-year-old male was located and charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person under 21. The juvenile was arraigned in New Castle County Family Court and committed to a juvenile detention facility after failing to post $10,000 cash bail.
Police stated that potential human trafficking victims were identified at both business locations, including three adult females. According to authorities, those individuals were referred to the New Castle County Police Department’s Victim Services Unit for support and resources.
Officials said multiple agencies assisted in the investigation, including the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Delaware Department of Justice, Delaware Anti-Trafficking Council, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Elsmere Police Department.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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