FDLE shuts down three massage parlors - NBC2 News

[massage]

At least three massage parlors are shut down in Collier County and 14 people were arrested in Lee County. It's all part of a large investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that spans two counties.

The businesses are on Pine Ridge Road near Airport Pulling Road, Davis Boulevard and US-41 in Naples Park.

NBC2 knows officers from the FDLE and the Collier County Sheriff's Office were at those massage parlors on Wednesday afternoon, but the agencies refuse to tell us what they were doing, only saying it's an ongoing investigation.

Smiley Castaneda owns Smiley Graphics and Promotions in Naples Park. He's been in the plaza for four years right near a massage parlor, now closed.

“It's strange because it's so family oriented over there. They had a karate place there and then all of a sudden a massage parlor pops up, and that doesn't add up,” Castaneda said.

Castaneda says the massage parlor opened a few months ago. Law enforcement officers were there on Wednesday investigating and on Thursday, we couldn't find anyone working at the business.

“If they are not doing the right legal stuff then they should be closed down,” Castaneda said.

We found 14 people booked into the Lee County jail Wednesday were arrested by FDLE. FDLE won't confirm these people are part of their massage parlor investigation in Naples, but many of them have the same addresses as these parlors and face charges related to the businesses.

“I think it's kind of crazy. You would never think that kind of activity could be lurking within Naples,” said Naples resident Mercedes LaPorta.

The 14 people all face racketeering charges. Some face extra charges, like money laundering and using their massage parlor as their primary residences. Their bonds range from $500,000 to $2.5 million.


Let's block ads! (Why?)