ROCHESTER (WWJ) — Three people have been arrested after Rochester police busted a suspected prostitution operation at a massage parlor, which authorities say “didn’t even offer massages.”
After months of investigating, Rochester police made a raid Tuesday, April 2 at the Green Rose Health Studio near Downtown Rochester. Two asian females and a man, who was a client, were taken into custody. Authorities have not released their identities.
Lt. Keith Harper told WWJ’s Luke Sloan the investigation began back in November after the department received a complaint that a new business in the area was possibly running a prostitution ring.
After police began investigating they discovered the business owner had ties to a similar spa in Livonia that was busted for prostitution. No names of those involved have been released.
Harper said further investigation online led police to believe there was “other activity going on besides massages.” He said it appears the owner of the Livonia operation shut down when a couple people were charged and they “moved shop to Rochester.”
Surveillance of the Green Rose Health Studio showed there was “a lot of activity,” with people, predominantly men, coming and going in a short amount of time all throughout the day. Harper said the business’s hours of operation were 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“We sent in an undercover officer and it was immediately apparent that this was not a massage studio. In fact, they didn’t even offer massages,” Harper said.
The business’s rate for a “massage” was $80 for an hour, according to Harper, who said “if you didn’t agree to the other services, they basically kicked you out.”
Further investigation, including more surveillance and a visit from another undercover officer “confirmed our suspicions that it was a prostitution ring,” Harper said.
During a raid of the location, authorities seized nearly $4,000 in cash, along with several laptops and cell phones.
Harper noted the department worked with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials during the investigation. He said police wanted to make sure there was no human trafficking going on and that those involved were legal residents.
Investigators found no immigration violations, Harper said.
The investigation remains ongoing.