On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Detectives assigned to the New Castle County Division of Police Drug and Human Trafficking Investigations Team participated in Operation Coast to Coast, a coordinated nationwide enforcement effort involving more than 250 law enforcement agencies across 30 states.
The operation, one of the largest anti-human trafficking initiatives ever conducted in the United States, was executed simultaneously with the goals of identifying victims, apprehending traffickers and sex buyers, and seizing criminal proceeds. Throughout the country, Operation Coast to Coast resulted in the identification of 129 victims, including 11 minors and one adult who was seven months pregnant. Investigators also detained 86 adult males, arrested 53 sex buyers, and executed 108 search warrants, including 36 at illicit massage businesses. In addition, more than $500,000 in criminal assets were seized, including cash, gold, silver, and vehicles.
As part of the investigation here in New Castle County, Detectives received information indicating that clients were being offered sexual acts in exchange for money at two locations: TH Rainbow Spa, located at 2304 Carpenter Station Rd., Wilmington, DE 19801, and Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, located at 1919 Capitol Trail, Newark, DE 19711.
A search warrant was executed in the morning at TH Rainbow Spa, where 44-year-old Mei Chen of Wilmington, DE, was identified as the owner/operator. Chen was taken into custody and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where she was charged with:
- One felony count of Promoting Prostitution (Second Degree)
- One felony count of Money Laundering
- One misdemeanor count of Practicing Massage/Bodywork Therapy Without a License
- One misdemeanor count of Criminal Nuisance
Chen was arraigned at 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, 36-year-old Matthew Tamayo of Aston, PA, was located at TH Rainbow Spa. He was taken into custody, transported to police headquarters, and charged with:
- One misdemeanor count of Patronizing a Prostitute
Tamayo was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $1,000 unsecured bail.
During the execution of the search warrant at TH Rainbow Spa, the following items were seized:
- Over $9,600 in U.S. currency
- One vehicle
In the afternoon, a search warrant was executed at Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, where 56-year-old Li Shi of Newark, DE, was identified as the owner/operator. Shi was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters, where she was charged with:
- One felony count of Promoting Prostitution (Second Degree)
- One felony count of Money Laundering
- One misdemeanor count of Operating an Unlicensed Massage Establishment
- One misdemeanor count of Criminal Nuisance
Shi was arraigned at 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.
Following the execution of the search warrant at Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, Detectives obtained and executed additional search warrants at a residence in Newark, DE. The following items were seized:
- Over $25,000 in U.S. currency
- Approximately $42,000 in gold bars and coins
- Approximately $16,000 in silver bars and coins
- High-end jewelry
- Two vehicles
- Approximately 36 grams of marijuana
- One .38 caliber handgun and ammunition
During the additional search warrant, a 17-year-old male was also located. He was charged with:
- One felony count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 21
- One felony count of Possession of 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.
During the operation, potential human trafficking victims were identified at both locations. At TH Rainbow Spa, a 49-year-old female and a 37-year-old female were located, and at Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, a 45-year-old female was also located, all of whom were believed to be potential victims. All individuals were referred to the New Castle County Police Department’s Victim Services Unit for support, resources, and assistance related to their involvement in the investigation.
The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Delaware Department of Justice, Delaware Anti-Trafficking Council, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Elsmere Police Department all accompanied and assisted with the investigation involving both businesses and these investigations.
