OVERLAND PARK Two months after agents raided massage parlors throughout the Kansas City area, city officials this week began forcing some of the targeted businesses to close. On Monday, the City Council denied or revoked the licenses of three massage parlors that were included in the raids, part of an investigation into prostitution and human-trafficking. The owner of a fourth business relinquished her license before it could be revoked.
The council also denied applications from two new businesses not involved in the raids, either because it shared an owner with a raided parlor or for other violations. We need to send the message that this type of supervision (by owners) will not be tolerated, said council member David White. Federal agents and local police raided 12 suburban Kansas City, Mo.
, massage parlors on May 10, including eight in Overland Park. The other businesses were in Lenexa, Mission and Olathe. While parlors in the other cities have since closed, at least three of the raided parlors in Overland Park were still operating as of last month, the Kansas City Star reported.
On Monday, city council members began changing that, revoking the licenses for Touch of Asia Health Center, Lyn Spa and Victoria Square, which also operated the now-closed China Rose. Qi Feng, who operated Lily Massage, agreed to give up her license, which had been on the block for revocation. I wish I could save the reputation of the Chinese parlors, Feng said through an interpreter.
I hope you understand. Next month, the council will take up the licenses for Asiatic Health Spa, Lin Dynasty and Ponlaiguh Acupressure. While some of the businesses may face federal charges, that doesn t automatically force them to close, said FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza.
Authorities typically leave the regulation of businesses to local government. Council members this week also denied license applications from Mya Spa, which wasn t part of the raids but had the same owner as Lyn Spa, and Sports Care and Relax, which officials said had opened before receiving a license and was using unlicensed therapists. The owner of Sports Care said his employees opened without his knowledge.
Officials also denied applications for such things as incorrect information on the application or promoting prostitution. Two business owners pleaded with the council to keep their doors open. I did my best to do a clean job, Wei Shi, owner of Touch of Asia, said tearfully through a translator.
Shi has pleaded not guilty in Johnson County District Court to charges of promoting prostitution after a male customer reported that he had been solicited for a sex act and had refused. Another customer said an employee had performed a sex act on him. Shi told council members that the employee violated her rules.
I think the evidence presented is very clear that there were sex acts performed at this location, he said. The motivation of the owner is secondary. Tina Lee, owner of Ponlaiguh Acupressure, said she will fight the council s revoking of her license.
Her attorney said that neither Lee nor any of her employees has been charged and that Lee denies being involved in prostitution or human trafficking. City officials claim police found a naked male customer when they raided Lee s business, an apparent violation of city standards requiring that customers private parts be covered. They also allege that an employee exposed her breasts to a customer.
Lee denied the claims, saying the customer had just disrobed when the police came in. I m clean as a whistle, she said. I am doing acupressure and reflexology.
I don t need any of their accusations. OVERLAND PARK Two months after agents raided massage parlors throughout the Kansas City area, city officials this week began forcing some of the targeted businesses to close.
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