River Grove massage business ordered closed as 2 employees face prostitution charges,...

[massage]

Two employees of a River Grove massage parlor were arrested April 24, and Wonderful Spa, their place of work, was ordered closed indefinitely after police said an investigation determined the women had traded sexual favors for money.

So long as the employees’ case is in court, Wonderful Spa, at 8412 Grand Ave., will remain closed, village officials said.

Lingling Hu, 37, of the 8400 block of Grand Avenue, and Liming Sun, 59, of the 300 block of West 23rd Street, Chicago, each was charged with one count of misdemeanor prostitution. Each was released on $100 bond, and they are due to appear for a hearing May 30 in Maybrook Court, River Grove Police Chief Rodger Loni said.

Whether the establishment, licensed to Jian Guo Zhang of the 300 block of West 23rd Street, Chicago, would be able to get a license to reopen may be decided by trustees.


Attempts to reach those charged and Zhang were unsuccessful.

Wonderful Spa first received a business license on May 25, 2016; it is the only massage parlor in River Grove. Licenses are renewed annually, and they were to expire on April 30, officials said.

Questions or concerns related to licenses of a particular business will be addressed at the May 5 River Grove Village Board meeting.

The business would not get a license while the case is in court, River Grove Village President David Guerin said. A license would get careful scrutiny before it is renewed, if at all, he added.


“We will not let places with any illegal activity operate in our town,” he said. “There isn’t any stronger and bigger message (about not allowing such businesses in town) than sending police officers to this place and arresting individuals. This is a small community, a family community, with zero tolerance for this activity.”

Loni said police had been getting complaints about illegal activity at the business for several months. Two months ago, the vice unit from the Cook County Sheriff’s Department began conducting an investigation at the business, Loni said. On April 24, River Grove police arrested the two employees and shut down the business, he said.

Deborah Kadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.


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