State shuts down massage parlors in six Texas cities amid trafficking concerns - Midland Reporter-Telegram

[B. Kay Richter]

Texas regulators shut eight massage parlors in six cities for suspected human trafficking and licensing violations.

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AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issued a six-month emergency closure order effective May 19 for eight massage establishments for suspected human trafficking in six Texas cities, including one in Midland.


In a press release issued Tuesday, May 27, TDLR investigators said they found activities consistent with human trafficking at each of the eight establishments.



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Additionally, state officials said that a TDLR investigation revealed a range of violations at various locations such as employees living at some of the businesses, a lack of required client consultation documents and illicit advertisements connected to the establishments that offered sexual services.


"Furthermore, several employees identified themselves with out-of-state identification," TDLR said. "(They) admitted to being at the establishment for temporary work, and admitted to providing massage services, but did not have a massage therapist license to perform these services in Texas."
Investigators with TDLR said that all eight of the massage establishments were owned by three people. TDLR identified Ruiying Lian, Hongcui Hao, and Tianli Wang as all being connected through the business entities Tongfuxin LLC and Tongfu LLC.


"The three people and the business entities were ordered to halt operations at the establishments and are prohibited from operating different massage establishments at the locations," said TDLR.


The establishments being shut down are:



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• Sunny Massage in Midland
• Pattaya Foot Reflexology in Odessa
• Thai Massage in Odessa
• Family Reflexology (two locations) in Amarillo
• Best Foot Spa in Lubbock
• Julie’s Massage in Cleburne
• Tongfuxin LLC (doing business as A Pattaya Massage) in Kerrville

TDLR also cited an April 29 joint inspection of Sunny Massage (also known as Sunny Spa) in Midland. The inspection was performed dually by the Midland Police Department and Midland City Code Enforcement Division. Investigators said a customer of the business admitted to authorities that he paid for sexual services from an employee.


The massage business was next door to a childcare facility in a commercial building. Martha Oropesa, co-owner of Ready Set Educate Academy, told authorities that one of the massage employees broke into her business while trying to evade police.


Law enforcement officers said they had to enter the childcare facility tactically to detain 55-year-old Yueh Hsien Huang — who was identified by the "John" on scene as the person he had paid for the sexual act, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram report.



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"Yueh Hsien Huang was aware that she was entering a daycare through the roof, she was aware that police officers had guns drawn and were breaking the glass door to detain her by her surveillance camera and officers yelling police and commanding her to open the door which she refused," the Midland Police report said.


The report said that because Huang fled the scene and entered the childcare facility, she recklessly placed children in danger as she tried to avoid capture by police. Huang is being detained at the Midland County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond for the child endangerment charge. Additionally, she is on a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services hold.


TDLR investigators also cited Family Reflexology in Amarillo, where they said a woman filed a complaint in 2023 with TDLR claiming a male massage therapist inappropriately touched her during a massage.


On Sept. 1, 2023, HB 3579, passed in the 88th Legislature regular session. Under the legislation proposed by State Representative Benjamin Bumgarner and State Senator Phil King, the executive director of TDLR can issue an emergency order halting the operation of any massage establishment if law enforcement or TDLR finds evidence or indicators that human trafficking is occurring at the establishment.



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TDLR encourages citizens who suspect human trafficking is occurring to contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities.


Residents can also file a complaint online for a TDLR-regulated business that they suspect may be participating in human trafficking.