Four Arrested Following New Castle County Human Trafficking and Prostitution Investigation
State of Delaware - In 2025, detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police Drug and Human Trafficking Investigations Team began investigating alleged illicit sexual acts at multiple local massage businesses.
During the investigation, detectives received information regarding sexual acts being offered to clients at Wellness Tui-Na. This business is located at 1304 Old Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, Delaware.
While conducting surveillance, detectives observed a black Subaru park behind the business.
The driver was later identified as 74-year-old Joseph Johnson of Pennsville, New Jersey. Investigators watched Johnson enter the business and subsequently exit with 62-year-old Mingzi Nan.
Detectives continued to monitor Johnson and Nan as they visited multiple other businesses. These locations included Angel Magic Therapy on Foulk Road in Wilmington and Panda Therapy Massage on South Chapel Street in Newark. Throughout the surveillance operation, Johnson and Nan were also observed traveling to various casinos and banks.
The investigation further revealed that clients at Panda Therapy Massage were being offered sexual acts in exchange for money. These offers were allegedly made by the owner and operator, 63-year-old Meilan Lanno, also known as Meilan Xu, of Newark. Detectives subsequently applied for and executed multiple search warrants across several locations.
On January 21, 2026, a search warrant was executed at Tui-Na Spa. Detectives determined that Nan was offering sexual acts for money during massage appointments and taking the proceeds to local casinos. Investigators also made contact with a potential human trafficking victim at this location.
Nan was taken into custody that same day and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters. She was charged with a felony count of conduct transaction involving proceeds of criminal activity and a felony count of promoting prostitution in the second degree. She also received misdemeanor charges for practicing as a massage technician without certification and criminal nuisance.
Nan was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution after failing to post a $10,200 secure bail.
On February 3, 2026, a second search warrant was executed at Angel Magic Therapy. Detectives identified 63-year-old Juli Cha of Laurel, Delaware, as the owner and operator.
During this search, detectives contacted potential human trafficking victims who reported they had not been compensated for their work at the spa.
On February 26, 2026, Cha was observed at Panda Spa and was taken into custody during a vehicle stop. Another search warrant was executed at Panda Spa that same day, where Lanno was located. Throughout the extensive investigation, approximately $13,988 was seized from the involved individuals and businesses.
Lanno, Cha, and Johnson were taken to police headquarters on February 26, 2026. Lanno was charged with felony promoting prostitution in the second degree and misdemeanor criminal nuisance. She was released after posting a $5,100 cash bail.
Johnson was charged with a felony count of conduct transaction involving proceeds of criminal activity and a felony count of conspiracy in the second degree. He also received two traffic violations for failing to remain within a single lane and failure to signal continuously. He was released after posting a $12,100 cash bail.
Cha was charged with felony promoting prostitution in the second degree, two misdemeanor counts of wage theft under $1,500, and misdemeanor criminal nuisance. She was released after posting a $7,100 secure bail and a $5,100 cash bail.
Following the investigation, the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation was notified regarding the incidents at these businesses. The female workers contacted inside the spas were referred to the New Castle County Police Department's Victim Services Unit, which provides support and resources to affected individuals.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
