Massage parlors involved in sting operation - KHOU

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The Harris County District Attorney’s Office says it’s working close to a dozen massage parlors that it claims are fronts for prostitution.(Photo: KHOU)


HOUSTON -- The Harris County District Attorney’s Office says it’s working close to a dozen massage parlors that it claims are fronts for prostitution.

After a three-month-long investigation, authorities raided a dozen different massage parlors and arrested 14 women on Wednesday, “a drop in the bucket,” said Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman, on a much bigger problem.

All 12 of those massage parlors were located on or near FM 1960. Since Feb. 1, officials say undercover officers from several different agencies went into these businesses, and on several occasions, were offered sexual services for a fee.

Sheriff Hickman says complaints from people living and taking their kids to school near these business prompted this investigation, and they’ve been hearing complaints along this corridor for years.

Now with Rodeo Houston less than a week away, Constable Alan Rosen of Precinct 1 says this is the time of year when prostitution spikes around the city.

“There’s a lot of partying going on, so sure, with the Rodeo and the Final Four and the Super Bowl next year, we’re gonna see an uptick in this,” said Constable Rosen.

“The stings on Johns, on the customers, are gonna go up, the raids are gonna continue, and we’re gonna make Houston as hot as we possibly can so people will not engage in prostitution activities in our city,” added Devon Anderson, Harris County District Attorney.

Officials estimate there are more than 300 massage parlors acting as fronts for prostitution across Harris County. Vince Ryan, Harris County Attorney, said he’s hoping lawsuits to close the businesses will help make a serious dent.

Anderson says none of the women arrested are U.S. citizens, and some of them had their passports taken away by their employers, which is a huge warning sign of human trafficking.


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