The owner of a massage parlor in South Central Pennsylvania was arrested after being accused of using the establishment to sell customers sexual services performed by herself and her staff.
In the fall of 2023, “Operation: Closed2Trafficking” was launched in Cumberland County to try to curtail sex trafficking that was taking place in local massage parlors. Last month, Cumberland County Criminal Investigation Division deputies went to GL Massage Therapy in Carlisle with a search warrant and inspected the business. One of the employees reportedly told them that she and another woman had both taken money from customers in exchange for sexual activities. The deputies learned the other individual’s name, and they discovered that the 69-year-old woman from Newport owned a massage business called Li’s Asian Spa, also known as New Asian Spa. They purported that illegal activity was going on there as well, and they began investigating the establishment.
An online search was conducted, and the authorities reportedly saw several reviews posted for Li’s where the presumed clients mentioned trading money for sexual pleasure. According to reports, a few individuals claiming to be customers spoke directly to deputies and told them they had paid for sex acts.
On November 19, law enforcement went to Li’s with a search warrant, and the owner and her husband were on the premises when they arrived. The woman informed them that she owned the business for 7 years and tried to assure them that nothing illegal was going on. She also reportedly said she sometimes worked at GL.
On November 20, the woman was arrested and booked into the Cumberland County Prison. She is facing preliminary charges of three felony counts of corrupt organizations, one felony count of promoting prostitution, two misdemeanor counts of promoting prostitution, two counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and one count of trafficking in individuals. She was released after posting a $100,000 bond.
Both businesses are listed as being permanently closed.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.