Dracut massage parlor closes after prostitution probe - Lowell Sun

[massage]

DRACUT -- Sunflower Spa, the massage parlor at the center of a months-long investigation into an alleged prostitution network, has closed.

It's unclear what day owner Yong Keng Chen cleared out the business, but a "Space For Lease" sign is now posted behind a front window. Gone are the photos of a relaxed man and woman receiving massages, and a poster listing the spa's hours and massage prices.

Chen's daughter, who only identified herself as Ms. Chen, told a Sun reporter on Thursday that it was not their decision to leave. She denied any wrongdoing and said her father took over the business in July and that they had no knowledge of alleged activities there.

"The landlord, they don't rent (to) us anymore so that's why we had to close," Chen said over the phone.


The exterior of the Sunflower Spa on Broadway Road in Dracut as it appeared earlier this month when the story broke about the business allegedly being part of a human-trafficking operation. (SUN / AMARIS CASTILLO)

"They don't rent (to) us anymore, so I'm not going to do any comments anymore."
The owner of the building at 11 Broadway Road is Kevin Ryan, according to the Assessors Department. An attempt to reach Ryan last week was unsuccessful.

Police on Nov. 28 arrested Dan T. Zheng, 47, of Boston on human-trafficking charges, alleging she forced employees to perform sexual services as four massage parlors around the area, including Sunflower Spa. The other businesses were: Lisa Massage Therapy in Arlington, Sunshine Spa and Massage in Stoneham, and Rose Health Spa in Boston. Authorities said Zheng oversaw business at the locations in question.

Search warrants executed at the listed businesses located six female victims, officials said.


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Zheng was later arraigned on charges of trafficking persons for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution and procuring support for prostitution. She will next appear in court on Jan. 10.

According to town records, the current business certificate registration is under Yong Keng Chen, of Boston, and expires on July 31, 2022.

"The status of the business certificate has not changed," Assistant Town Clerk Jayne Boissonneault said. "We haven't been notified to do anything with the business certificate."

Boissonneault added that not everyone comes into the Town Clerk's Office to announce they've closed.

Sunflower Spa had changed owners several times since it opened last year. According to town records, a business certificate registration was first issued on Oct. 18, 2017, under Dan Wei Zheng for a body work/massage business. Town Clerk Kathleen Graham last week said the certificate was discontinued on July 31, 2018 and a new certificate was opened with two new names that replaced Zheng: Chen Jing and Liu Yao Mei, both of Boston. Then came a certificate renewal, this time under the name of Yong Keng Chen.

Follow Amaris Castillo on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.


The space at 11 Broadway Road in Dracut formerly occupied by the Sunflower Spa. (SUN / AMARIS CASTILLO)


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