Confessions of a former sex addict: Illicit ‘spas’ reemerging on Staten Island - SILive.com

[Erik Bascome | tbascome@siadvance.com]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For more than 20 years, a self-proclaimed former sex addict fueled his addiction by frequenting underground brothels on Staten Island masquerading as reputable massage parlors and spas.

Like any addiction, it wasn’t cheap, with thousands of dollars spent throughout the years in exchange for sexual acts from dozens of women.

The longtime borough resident, who spoke to the Advance/SILive.com on the condition of anonymity, patronized these businesses for more than two decades in order to get his fix, but is now raising the red flag on the illicit industry he spent years contributing to.

He described the experience as dehumanizing to the women providing the services, with the scantily clad workers paraded in front of clients who would then select their preferred “masseuse.”

“They would take the girls and march them out. You’d feel bad for the girls because they were wearing these skimpy little outfits and then you’d pick which one you want and do what you gotta do,” the source said.

The issue is one that has long plagued the borough, with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com reporting extensively on these ‘sex for sale’ spas and law enforcement officials’ efforts to shutter them throughout the years.

But no matter how many locations are shut down, others quickly pop up to take their place, the source said, offering first-hand insights into the inner workings of the illicit industry here on Staten Island.

How it works​

To ensure privacy for the clients, appointments at these establishments are typically booked for a specific time, during which no other appointments are scheduled so that those frequenting the location are not seen by others.

Customers are charged a ‘house fee’ upon arrival, typically in the range of $50 to $60, before being whisked away by the woman of their choice.

Additional payment amounts for illicit sexual services then vary based on what exactly is requested, typically starting around $100 and escalating for more physically demanding sexual acts.

Payments are generally cash-only in order to protect the business from any sort of digital paper trail, although the source said that some of the workers would accept tips via CashApp or other electronic means.

Underground community​

And finding locations that offer these services is much easier than one might think, with various online forums, like ampreviews.net, featuring hundreds of posts reviewing and discussing local establishments and the women who work there.

On the website’s Staten Island section, there are nearly 700 threads, featuring more than 3,000 comments, discussing the underground industry across the borough.

In the reviews, commenters will provide details about their recent experiences, including the establishment’s location, phone number and price, as well as their masseuse’s nationality, estimated age and physical appearance, sometimes in rather graphic detail.

While the online message boards reference various locations, the source who spoke with the Advance/SILive.com highlighted one establishment located on Hylan Boulevard in Eltingville that he said recently closed down, but had been offering such services for years.

A representative from the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner Public Information confirmed that a 32-year-old New Dorp man was arrested and charged with patronizing prostitution in the third degree at the spa on Hylan Boulevard in Eltingville on May 24, 2024.

The location had received 62 311 complaints since the start of 2023, including 30 for noise, 13 for drug activity, 12 for illegal parking, six for drinking and one for loitering.

The problem is, as soon as an establishment is busted and shut down, others quickly pop up to take their place, the source said.

Once a patron of these illicit businesses, the source said he hopes that by speaking out about the industry he can help address the longtime community concern and prompt increased enforcement action by local officials.

“The last time the Advance put a spotlight on this issue it ceased for a good three or four years. It really did. It was like dead,” the source said.

In 2014, the Advance/SILive.com reported on various sex for sale ‘spas’ and ‘massage parlors’ across the borough, prompting a series of undercover operations that resulted in the shuttering of half a dozen establishments the following year.

A known issue​

As has been the case for the past decade, these spas remain a known issue among law enforcement officials on Staten Island, who claim to be working diligently to shutter these establishments.


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“We recognize the growing public safety and quality of life concerns illegal massage parlors pose on and around Staten Island. As Staten Island’s chief law enforcement officer, our commitment to addressing the issue remains a priority, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners in the NYPD to combat this illegal activity,” said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon.

The district attorney’s office could not comment on specific locations referenced in online posts, but said it is doing everything in its power to address this longstanding issue.

“While we cannot comment on specific, active, or open investigations and prosecutions, we have previously employed targeted enforcement actions with our partners to prosecute violators and have utilized civil enforcement actions under nuisance abatement laws to shut down these locations wherever possible. We strongly encourage the public to notify our office of known sites operating in our community and will persist in our efforts to ensure and preserve both the public safety and quality of life here on Staten Island,” McMahon added.