STUART, Fla. - A fifth woman charged in connection to alleged prostitution at massage parlors in Martin County has accepted a plea deal.
48-year-old Lixia Zhu entered a plea of no contest to one count of racketeering during a court hearing Wednesday afternoon.
Prosecutors agreed to drop five other charges, including money laundering and operating a house of prostitution, as part of the deal.
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The plea deal calls for Zhu to continue cooperating with law enforcement and prosecutors.
Assistant State Attorney Lev Evans told WPTV after the hearing that Zhu has been sharing information with investigators and "will provide that testimony in court if asked."
Racketeering carries a sentence of up to thirty years in prison, but her plea deal could result in a reduced sentence as long as she continues cooperating with investigators.
Zhu also filed a motion to suppress evidence video evidence obtained using "sneak-and-peak" search warrants on Tuesday.
The motion is similar to what judges have already ruled on in Martin County, Indian River County, and Palm Beach County. However, she has not requested a hearing on the motion.
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Evans explained that Zhu wanted that option on the record, but is not pursuing it at this time. He said it "obviously is a weakness for the state" given how other judges have ruled on similar motions to suppress.
Only one so-called madam connected to alleged prostitution at day spas in Martin County is still fighting her charges. 49-year-old Ruimei Li, of Jupiter, is facing two charges, one count of racketeering and one count of money laundering.
Zhu is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. A judge reduced her bond to $100 this afternoon as well.
