ST. GEORGE — Police executed search warrants Tuesday at five Washington County massage parlors, resulting in a number of charges.
As part of a multiagency operation and investigation into prostitution, sexual solicitation and Utah business license violations, search warrants were served at Japan Massage, Golden Coast Massage and Massage Therapy, each located in St. George, along with Dixie Massage, located in both St. George and Washington City.
“Those warrants were in response to a long investigation into information we received that prostitution was being performed at these parlors,” St. George Police Sgt. David Williams said. “… We’ve received complaints from numerous citizens who went in to get a massage and they were solicited sexually for other activities.”
The Police Department has enlisted the help of several government agencies, including Homeland Security and IRS, to help process a significant amount of evidence seized during the search warrant executions, Williams said, adding that additional charges may be forthcoming.
“There’s a lot of information to process,” Williams said. “We seized a lot of cellphones (and) a lot of DVRs that contain camera footage of the (parlors) – so, clients coming in and out.”
Dixie Massage
During the service of the search warrant at Dixie Massage, located at 225 N. Bluff St. in St. George, detectives located two females, identified as Feng Fang Li, known to clients as “Suzanne,” and Dong Ju Jin, known to her clients as “Jenny,” St. George Police Officer Lona Trombley said.
Prior to the search warrant being issued, an undercover officer entered the business for a massage. During the massage, Feng Fang Li offered to perform sexual acts on the undercover officer in exchange for money, Trombley said, adding that the undercover officer declined.
Upon police questioning, Feng Fang Li allegedly admitted she is not a licensed massage therapist and does not have a license to work as a massage therapist in Utah but admitted to working at Dixie Massage as a massage therapist for approximately one year.
“During the course of the interview, Feng admitted to performing sex acts on ‘two to three clients,’” Trombley said.
Feng Fang Li was arrested on a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license, along with a class B misdemeanor count of prostitution.
Dong Ju Jin also allegedly admitted to being employed at Dixie Massage as a massage therapist performing foot and back massages at the business for more than a year, Trombley said. She also admitted she is not a licensed massage therapist and does not have a license to work as a massage therapist in Utah.
Dong Ju Jin was arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
During the execution of the search warrant at Dixie Massage, located at 43 N. 300 West in Washington City, investigators spoke with a female identified as Geman Li, Trombley said. Following a police interview, Geman Li was issued a citation for class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
Japan Massage
Prior to service of the search warrant at Japan Massage, located at 328 E. St. George Blvd. in St. George, an undercover officer entered the business for a massage.
“Contact was made with a female known as ‘Vicki,’” Trombley said. “At that time, ‘Vicki’ offered to perform sexual acts on the undercover officer in exchange for money. The undercover officer declined.”
During the execution of the warrant Tuesday, “Vicki” was not located at the business. However, investigators encountered two females, later identified as Shanmei Olmstead and Yuhua Liu.
“Both Shanmei Olmstead and Yuhua Liu were interviewed and admitted to conducting massages at the Japan Massage location,” Trombley said. “Both admitted that they weren’t licensed in Utah to perform massages and that they came to St. George specifically to make money doing massages.”
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Shanmei Olmstead and Yuhua Liu were both arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
Charges of prostitution and performing massages without a massage license are pending in “Vicki’s” case.
Golden Coast Massage
When investigators entered Golden Coast Massage, located at 249 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George, with a search warrant in hand, they encountered two females, later identified as Li Ying and Yuxoang Wang.
“While interviewing Li Ying, she admitted to being the owner and bringing employees to St. George to work as massage therapists,” Trombley said. “Li also admitted to performing massages at the business.”
Li Ying was arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
“Prior to the warrant service, an undercover police officer met with Yuxoang Wang at Gold Coast Massage,” Trombley said. “During this meeting, negotiations were made for sexual favors in exchange for money. The undercover officer declined the services and left the business.”
During her interview, Yuxoang Wang allegedly admitted she was at the massage parlor to perform massages, police said, but that she did not have a valid business license to do so.
Yuxoang Wang was charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license, along with a class B misdemeanor count of prostitution.
Massage Therapy
Prior to the warrant service at Massage Therapy, located at 425 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George, an undercover police officer met with Jumei Qin at the business, Trombley said.
“During this meeting, negotiations were made for sexual favors in exchange for money,” Trombley added. “The undercover officer declined the services and left the business.”
Jumei Qin was arrested and charged with two class A misdemeanor counts of sexual solicitation and not having a massage parlor license, along with a class B misdemeanor count of prostitution.
The investigation into the massage parlors is ongoing, police said Tuesday, adding that evidence is currently being processed and additional charges may be pending.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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