Houston massage businesses close amid trafficking investigation - KHOU.com

[massage]

A massage business in north Houston has been permanently closed along with seven other similar establishments amid suspicions of human trafficking.


HOUSTON — A north Houston massage establishment and a handful of its affiliated businesses have been shut down for good after a recent state inspection found potential signs of trafficking at the initial location.


On May 30, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issued a six-month emergency closure for Foot Reflexology Star on 10801 Spring Cypress Road.


TDLR spokesperson Tela Mange explains that the closure came after a routine inspection.


“There was evidence people were living in the establishment, along with other indicators that that we know go hand in hand with trafficking,” she said.


When KHOU 11 News went to the establishment in early June, it appeared to still be open.


Several weeks later, the business was permanently closed along with seven other massage businesses across Houston and Beaumont, owned by Hsin Wei Chen.


“We started researching more and finding they were all kind of interconnected,” Mange said. “Before we could really move to start taking action to see what’s going on in those other places he agreed to just go ahead and shut down permanently.”


Mange tells KHOU 11 News that Chen signed a settlement agreement that revoked his massage therapist license and licenses his businesses:

• Foot Reflexology Star, 10801 Spring Cypress Rd., Ste. 12, Houston
• Sunny Foot Massage, 10950 FM 1960 W., Ste. B, Houston
• L&P Massage LLC, 2808 Hwy 6 S., Ste. IA, Houston
• A Massage d/b/a A Reflexology Massage LLC, 2570 I-10 E, Beaumont
• Heavenly Massage LLC d/b/a Heavenly Massage, 12989 Bellaire Blvd, Ste. 7 A, Houston
• Everlasting Bliss d/b/a Heavenly Massage, 12989 Bellaire Blvd, Ste. 7 A, Houston
• Ivy Massage, 1780 N. Major Dr., Beaumont
• Ly Massage, 17802 W. Little York Rd., Ste. D, Houston

Chen had a previous enforcement case with TDLR for “similar conduct” according to a statement.


“Establishments like this often will move their employees between locations,” she said. “It’s possible that was going on, we don’t know for certain.


The initial six-month closure of Chen’s north Houston massage establishment was the first emergency order of its kind in Texas. A new state law (House Bill 3579) that went into effect last September gives TDLR the authority to shut down massage establishments if human trafficking is suspected.


Mange said the department expects “there will be many more of these” massage establishment closures.


If you visit a massage business and things don’t seem above board, you’re encouraged to report that establishment to the TDLR.


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