JONESBORO, Ark. — The owner and business manager of Tree Massage was placed on two years of probation after pleading guilty to second-degree promoting prostitution under a negotiated plea agreement.
Na Li entered the plea Oct. 5 in Craighead County Circuit Court before Judge Chris Thyer, according to a guilty plea statement and sentencing order filed that day. The offense is a Class D felony.
The order imposed no jail or prison term. A separate Class B felony charge of unauthorized use of property to facilitate a crime was dropped by prosecutors.
Li initially faced allegations that included human trafficking during her June court appearance. The Oct. 5 sentencing order lists only the property-use charge and the promoting prostitution charge; it does not list a human trafficking count.
The court placed Li on probation under Arkansas’ first-offender provisions, deferring further proceedings without making a finding of guilt or entering a judgment of guilt, according to the order. Arkansas law allows that procedure for eligible defendants who plead guilty. arkleg.state.ar.us
Li was assessed a $10 fine, $150 in court costs, a $40 booking fee and a $250 DNA sample fee. The order also lists a $35 monthly probation fee.
The sentencing order was signed by Thyer, Deputy Prosecutor Katherine E. Calaway-Turner and Li’s attorney, Michael Lilly.
The case followed a June 25 police operation at Tree Massage on Southwest Drive. Jonesboro police said the investigation began in February after the department received a complaint submitted to the FBI about the business.
According to police, the complainant reported that a massage worker repeatedly touched inappropriate areas of her body after being told to stop. She also reported being burned with hot rocks she had not requested and said the worker demanded a tip.
Police said surveillance showed the business operated seven days a week with extended hours and that employees were living on the premises. Investigators also interviewed a person observed visiting the business in April who reported that it offered “additional” services for compensation and tips.
The operation included assistance from Arkansas State University police, Homeland Security Investigations, Hope Found, the Family Crisis Center, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Jonesboro SWAT team.
During her June 26 appearance in Craighead County District Court, Li denied the allegations through an interpreter.
“Your honor, I heard what was just read, I can swear none of those were true, not even a single one,” Li said at the time.
District Judge David Boling set bond at $150,000 cash or surety, with conditions that included surrendering her passports and wearing a GPS ankle monitor.
Arrest
JPD announced that a special operation had been conducted at Tree Massage earlier in the day.
A special operation was conducted at a business on Southwest Drive earlier today with assistance from ASUPD, HSI, Hope Found, the Family Crisis Center, US Marshals, and members of the Jonesboro SWAT team.
In February of 2026, the Jonesboro Police Department received a complaint submitted to the FBI regarding a massage parlor in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The complainant advised that she went to Tree Massage at 5510 Southwest Drive for a massage. She stated that the masseur kept massaging inappropriate places on her body after repeatedly being told to stop. She then burned her with hot rocks, even though she had never requested them. The masseur then demanded a tip and became upset when she did not provide one.
Surveillance was conducted, and it was discovered that the business operated seven days a week with extended hours. Only Asian females have been seen working there. The investigation also revealed that employees were living on the business premises.
In April, a known subject was seen entering the business and being inside for approximately one hour. This subject was interviewed and advised that this massage parlor would perform “additional” services for compensation and tips, services that he was familiar with.
The owner and business manager, Na Li, was taken into custody and will be booked into the Craighead County Detention Center for Promoting Prostitution, 2nd Degree. This case is still under investigation.
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