Police: Fort Collins massage parlor a front for prostitution - The Coloradoan

[massage]

Sady Swanson Fort Collins Coloradoan

Published 7:14 PM EST Jan 23, 2019


A Fort Collins massage parlor owner was arrested after police say he's used his business as a front for prostitution.

The owner of Ocean's Massage, 35-year-old Adam Santero, was arrested on suspicion of pimping and money laundering, both Class 3 felonies, after two men reported a female masseuse attempted to inappropriately touch them during a massage.

In late August or early September 2018, Santero allegedly asked a male sign shop owner to make him business signs in exchange for a massage, according to arrest documents.

The man agreed, but later told police that at the end of his back massage, the female masseuse "made a hand gesture to him indicating she wanted to manually stimulate his genitalia," arrest documents stated.

On Oct. 3, another man reported he was sexually assaulted at the end of his massage at Ocean's Massage.

Both men told police they said no to the female masseuse and immediately left, according to arrest documents.

While officers from Fort Collins Police Services Neighborhood Enforcement Team conducted surveillance of the Oakridge Drive business the following day, they saw two men enter and one man leave about 9 p.m.

An hour later, officers saw one man leave the business. When stopped by police, the man said the female masseuse offered to "manually stimulate" him, but he declined and left, arrest documents stated.

Police later spoke with another business owner in the same area as Ocean's Massage, who said she was "very suspicious of the activities at Ocean's Massage," according to arrest documents.

She also said she never sees female clients or female employees leave the business. She added that sometimes, when she is working late, she sees men go inside Ocean's Massage even after it closed.

On Nov. 6, officers executed a search warrant of the business and found two females "that had clearly been living" in the business, based on officer's finding "a make-shift kitchen and dorm room" in the back of the building.

During the search, officers seized $15,000 in cash and also found semen-stained sheets and tissues in a bag in the laundry room, according to arrest documents.

One of the women found at the business, 43-year-old Li Liu, "admitted to performing sexual services," according to arrest documents.

Liu told police she would get $60 per client and give Santero $40 for every $60 she received. In return, Liu said Santero allowed her to stay in the business for free. Liu added that Santero came to the business every day when it closed at 10 p.m. to collect the money.

Liu was cited for prostitution in this case, according to Colorado court documents.

Santero was booked into Larimer County Jail on Jan. 18 and was released the same day on an $800 cash bond. He is next expected to appear in court Thursday.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Reporter Sady Swanson covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter: @sadyswan.

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