Lynn & Salem women working out of houses

Haverell massage raid

January 19, 2012
Police watched massage parlor for year and a half


HAVERHILL — State and local police have been watching a local massage parlor for more than a year and a half because of complaints that sexual favors were being sold there, investigators said.

State troopers and the FBI raided the business June 30, 2010, police said. The raid came to light as two women charged with offering sex there were arraigned yesterday in Haverhill District Court.

The investigation of Ta Nui Bodyworks at 800 Broadway led to the Jan. 12 arrests of:xxx of ttt address, who is charged with sexual conduct for a fee and keeping a house of prostitution; and xxxx the same address, who is charged with sexual conduct for a fee and indecent assault and battery.

The two women pleaded not guilty in Haverhill District Court yesterday.

No details about the June 2010 police raid on the massage parlor were available.

Local police said they had received numerous complaints about patrons going to a business that advertised massages. A website for Tui Na Bodyworks promised "happy endings" and "exotic Asian massage," according to investigators.

The massage parlor appeared to be out of business as of Sunday, police Deputy Chief Donald Thompson said.

xxx and xxxx were arrested the evening of Jan. 12 when detectives visited the massage parlor, according to a police report filed with the court.

That night, xxxx inappropriately touched an undercover officer while performing a massage on him, police said. When the officer recoiled at xxxx's inappropriate touching, she said, "Is this your first time here? Your time is almost up, OK?'' according to a police report.

Investigators said they discovered a used condom on the floor of one of the rooms during the Jan. 12 visit. They also found items in two massage rooms that would not be needed at a legitimate massage parlor, police said.

xxxx started to cry when the detectives found the used condom, according to their report. They also noted that when calls were made to the parlor, xxxx and xxx did not schedule appointments, as would be the usual case at a legitimate health-related business.

Before the Jan. 12 visit, detectives watching the premises noted a steady flow of customers — all of them men, police said.

At yesterday's arraignment, Judge Stephen Abany ordered both xxx and xxxx to return to court Feb. 24, at which time they will decide whether to be tried before a six-member jury or entrust a judge with deciding their verdict.

Abany permitted them to remain free on their own recognizance. Attorney zzzz of Haverhill is representing them.

Authorities delayed the arraignment until yesterday so they could arrange to have a Mandarin Chinese interpreter present. zzzz said he was able to communicate with one of the defendants, so he could adequately represent them during the arraignment. He asked that an interpreter be at the court for the Feb. 24 hearing.

. . . that LEO get solicited for sex in those places that I often have to beg for HE?  Just doesn't make sense to me, or I'm going to the wrong places.

Note that state police and the FBI are working these cases !

So they are saying that an undercover officer got completely nude and laid on a massage table???  isn't that entrapment??  because you typically wouldn't get fully nude at a legitimate massage appt either.  sounds like total bullshit.  sounds like they got complaints about the business and were determined to remove it from their area.

North Shore task force and the FBI of all things???? Please.  It's totally stupid.  Don't they have better crimes to investigate?  Especially the FBI.  Never heard of that one.

There was a much publicized court case in Mass a few years back, where a streetwalker was arrested by an undercover officer. She testified that the officer had touched her breasts, and that she had touched his penis. The judge's response to the jury was that police officers working undercover may be required to do things which would normally be considered improper or immoral in order to maintain their cover. A rather vague statement, which raises the question of just how far they can go to "maintain their cover". But it set a legal precedent, which from what I've heard has held up so far.

Pretty much it means that if you encounter Uncle Leo in this business, you will be arrested. Therefore the only solution is to ensure that you never encounter them, ie screen your clients well. Admittedly, a much harder thing to do for a massage parlor I would assume.

Read the #2 post they are out there and they are watching backpage like a hawk..