ZHENGZHOU, May 29 -- Five courts in central China's Henan Province have sentenced 87 people to prison for involvement in prostitution and illegal activities in a nightclub, local court authorities announced on Friday.

On Monday, Xinxiang Intermediate People's Court sentenced Chen Jiagui and Wang Guofu, two of the Royal No.1 Nightclub managers, to life in prison for organizing prostitution and illegal cigarette sales. Nine other defendants received sentences from ten to 15 years along with fines.

Another 76 suspects have been sentenced to one to eight years in prison for organizing illegal sex, assisting the organizers, illegal management and harboring criminals. They were tried in the courts of Hongqi District, Muye District, Huixian City and Weihui City, which are all administered by Xinxiang City.

They were also fined from 10,000 yuan (1,600 U.S. dollars) to80,000 yuan each.

According to investigators, the nightclub, based in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, employed more than 4,500 women before it was raided and forced to close on Nov. 1, 2013.