PEOPLE
'Sex Sounds' Coming from Massage Parlors Interrupt Bible Study, Lead to Alleged Prostitution Bust
San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliot has asked the judge to shut down Ocean Spa and Health Station, which operate in side-by-side units
By Samira Asma-Sadeque Published on February 6, 2024 03:41PM EST
• Students from a bible study group next door allegedly witnessed people having sex in vehicles, according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE
• Male students were allegedly propositioned by massage parlor employees, authorities say
• San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliot said she's concerned with human trafficking at the establishments
Authorities in California claim they busted an alleged prostitution ring run out of two massage parlors after neighbors — including a bible study group that includes minors — repeatedly complained of hearing “sex sounds” and "loud moaning," according to a civil complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
According to the complaint, which was filed by the office of San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliot, authorities had been investigating the owners of Ocean Spa and Health Station and people allegedly connected to them since 2018, in connection with a different massage parlor operating under another name.
According to an accompanying statement by Elliot, her office had received complaints of female employees in "sexually explicit clothing" as well as moaning and foot traffic at all hours in connection with that parlor.
On several occasions during the investigation, undercover investigators trying to buy a massage were allegedly offered sexual activities for an additional fee, per the complaint. After receiving a notice of violation in 2019, that business was shut down.
Later the same year, a relative of the previous owners started Ocean Spa, which was billed as a “skin care aromatherapy” business, the complaint alleges. In 2021, one of the previous owners started Health Station in the adjacent unit.
According to the complaint, both businesses were allegedly involved in prostitution.
According to the complaint, a bible study group opened next to the businesses in 2022 and had some students who were minors. The complaint alleges that employees of the businesses allegedly invited the male students to "come over."
The students also allegedly witnessed two people having sex in a truck in front of the bible study in broad daylight, per the complaint. On another similar occasion, a “rocking vehicle” with the same pair inside was allegedly parked two spots away from a bible study student sitting in her car, the complaint alleges.
In her press statement, Elliott said there are also concerns of human trafficking on the premises.
"We're not convinced that these women voluntarily sold sex," she said, per the statement. "We're very concerned about the well-being of these employees."
Her office has asked the court to shut down the businesses and demanded they pay $100,000 in civil penalties, in addition to paying any other fees incurred by the city in their investigation, according to the statement.
PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach the businesses for comment on Tuesday.
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