Calls prompted investigation of Montgomery massage parlor - Cincinnati.com

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Ping Nian Chen(Photo: Provided/Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)


Calls from concerned citizens and adjacent businesses prompted Montgomery police to launch a two-month undercover prostitution investigation into the Peach Garden Asian Massage Parlor on Cooper Road.

The investigation ended Nov. 27 with police accusing a masseuse, 43-year-old Ping Nian Chen, of performing "illicit sexual acts" on an undercover officer. Police said the owner of the building near the intersection of Montgomery and Cooper roads is working to terminate the business' lease.

The massage parlor has been in business at the location since June 11, according to Tracey Roblero, director of Montgomery Community Development Department.

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Witnesses called police to report seeing men with Kentucky license plates leaving the parlor and wondered why they would drive all the way to Montgomery for a massage, said Detective Jim LaCalameto.

"We had to watch the place for quite a while," LaCalameto said.

A post dated Nov. 22 on Cincinnati Backpage states the business offers deep tissue, Swedish and hot stone massages by "Beautiful & Sweet Asian masseuse." The business hours are listed as 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Calls made to the number listed in the post did not go through.

Investigators monitored the massage parlor through video surveillance to confirm reports and then sent an undercover officer into the establishment, LaCalameto said. They worked with two other agencies, Delhi and Green Township police, that recently conducted similar prostitution busts at massage parlors.

LaCalameto said the three massage parlors in the communities are connected.

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"It's relatively new to the Tristate," LaCalameto said. "It's not something we are used to dealing with in the suburbs at massage parlors."

LaCalameto said prostitution is rare in Montgomery. He has been with the department for 24 years and previously has not dealt with a prostitution bust at a massage parlor.

Montgomery police contacted an outside agency for help with the investigation, he said. The agency provided an undercover officer.

"It's just not something you can do overnight. We can't just assume prostitution is going on and go in there and ask," he said.

The undercover officer went in for a massage and when he turned over to lie on his back, Chen initiated sexual contact, LaCalameto said. Audio surveillance captured the encounter.

He said officers are careful not to push, suggest or lead on suspects in undercover operations to avoid entrapment allegations.

Chen faces a prostitution charge and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 8.

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