By Sarah Bahari Staff writer. Authorities in Texas ordered a Denton spa accused of sex trafficking to shut down. Spa owner Xiaohang Chen did not respond to a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.
Chen did not have a license to operate a massage business, the state agency said. Authorities observed several men entering the business and leaving within 30 minutes. Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about. Or with:. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Investigators also found several bottles of baby oil, douche in the shower and in the trash and condoms inside a laundry detergent bottle and a wet wipe container.
When authorities tried to question the two women, one declined to answer questions, began having breathing problems and said she wanted to die, the order says. The other woman said she cooks and cleans for the business and had worked there for 20 days without pay. It is unclear what happened to the women.
The spa, in the block of West University Drive, sat in a small strip mall near a personal loan business and comic store. Texas law allows the licensing and regulation department to issue such an emergency closure if authorities suspect human trafficking. This is the 10th emergency order issued by the agency since the law went into effect in September Relax Spa in Garland voluntarily shut down in September of this year in response to a state investigation into trafficking.
City officials in Plano have sought court orders to investigate massage parlors they believe are a front for prostitution and human trafficking. One business, Tennyson Wellness Center , agreed to shut down earlier this year. Another, Red Rose Spa , is under investigation. If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call and alert the authorities. Complaints against businesses regulated by the licensing and regulation department, including massage therapists, can be submitted online at tdlr.
