3 San Antonio massage parlors shut down for suspected human trafficking - FOX 7 Austin

[Elizabeth Evans]

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Three San Antonio massage parlors have been shut down for the next six months following an emergency order by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

TDLR says that the order was issued due to suspected human trafficking.

What we know:

Rudy E. Lopez and Huang Ping Lopez have been ordered to stop operating the following businesses:

• Pings Best Foot Massage at 1007 NW Loop 410
• Pings Best Foot Massage at 9386 Huebner Rd, Suite 104
• Pings Best Foot Massage at 13114 Nacogdoches Rd.

They are also prohibited from operating a different massage parlor at these locations for six months.

The backstory:

TDLR says it received a complaint last June alleging that sexual activity was happening at one of the parlors. An investigation uncovered several illicit websites containing consumer reviews discussing services received.

In November, the San Antonio Police Department conducted an undercover investigation at one of the locations.

While onsite at one of the locations with SAPD, TDLR investigators found an unlicensed employee providing massage services. There were also indicators she was living there, and that commercial sexual services were being performed there, which is not allowed under state law, says TDLR.

Big picture view:

House Bill 3579, which passed during the 88th Texas Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023.

Under HB 3579, the TDLR can issue an emergency order to stop operations at any massage establishment if law enforcement or TDLR believes human trafficking is happening there.

This order is TDLR's 17th since the law went into effect and the first to close multiple locations owned by the same person.


The Source: Information in this report comes from a release by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

San AntonioCrime and Public Safety