AMITY โ The three women taken into custody from the Lotus Blossom Spa on Route 422 Wednesday have been charged with prostitution and related offenses, authorities confirmed Thursday.
SP, 51, MHL, 31, and SHK, 34, all Korean, listed their address as the Lotus Blossom Spa, 260 Route 422. They were arraigned and committed to Berks County Prison. Bail for Park was set at $100,000 cash and bail for the other two was set at $50,000 cash.
An investigation into the operation of the spa started in May after Amity Township Police received complaints from anonymous callers and neighbors reporting "the prostitution activity occurring inside the massage parlor," Chief County Detective MG wrote in a press release.
Also, an undercover detective from the district attorney's office met with the three women who have been arrested and charged at the spa during the investigation. During the meetings inside the parlor the three women agreed to provide sexual services on the undercover detective in exchange for payment, G wrote in the press release.
Police obtained a search warrant for the establishment from District Judge VF Tuesday, which they executed Wednesday.
In addition to Amity Township police and county detectives, agents from the Department of Homeland Security assisted.
Officials found the three women inside the establishment Wednesday as well as electronic equipment, documents, U.S. currency and condoms.
Detectives determined that P was the manager of the massage parlor.
The owner of Salon 256, which is in a building adjacent to the Lotus Blossom Spa which was also called 260 Massage Therapy, said Wednesday that she and many of her employees and customers were aware of the prostitution that was going on at the Lotus Blossom Spa.
"We saw the trafficking but didn't see any servicing, but we knew what was going on," she said.
The owner of Salon 256 continued to say that the Lotus Blossom Spa had caused problems for her business since it opened in April. Several customers didn't come to her business because they thought Salon 256, which offers relaxation massages, was affiliated with the unlawful spa.
"We're glad they're busted (because) they just caused problems for us," the Salon 256 owner said.
Hearings for the three women are scheduled for Sept. 9 before District Judge VF.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/09/04/news/srv0000006300769.txt