Police officers posed as employees at Angel Massage in Fresno. A tip led detectives to Angel Massage and after scoping out the foot traffic, officers knew it was a good spot to serve up a search warrant.
With the help of the FBI, officers first arrested the workers inside, then took over the business. But they wired and rigged it up before re-opening it, posing as massage therapists. Sean Biggs. Three women working inside were taken to police headquarters and booked. The ladies only spoke Mandarin Chinese. They were cited for operating a house of prostitution. Detectives are treating them as victims, but they didn't have much to say to police about the business.
Once officers went to work, one man after another came in - for more than a massage. That's when they were told they were under arrest for solicitation of a prostitute. They didn't want to be caught in a situation they were caught in.
Some cried knowing that their names will eventually made public as part of Operation Reveal. Officers say it was clear some of the male patrons weren't first-time visitors, but it was their first time confronted by a cop.
Every ticket issued was a first-time offender. Detectives say one clue a business may be operating illegally is through some items offered on the massage menu. Basically a four hand is literally four hands, meaning two girls, so that would be a pretty good red flag. We take very seriously people having businesses that impact neighborhoods adversely, such as these massage parlors, that are really prostitution dens.
