After being tipped off by an anonymous email, Colonie Police arrested four women on charges of being involved in unlicensed practicing and prostitution at the Jasmine Beauty and Massage on Dec. 9.
An anonymous email was sent to the Colonie Police Department a month ago that gave information that prostitution was taking place at the massage parlor, leading police on a two week investigation, according to Lt. Robert Winn.
This is the third time in less than two years police have made arrests at the parlor for similar charges.
After beginning initial transactions with owner Keun Ling Cheng, three undercover investigators posed as customers paid a visit to the massage parlor where they received a massage for $75. All three of the females do not have licenses as massage therapists, said Winn.
We verified that through the New York State Education Department, he said. `[The parlor] Reports itself to be a beauty and massage parlor that does waxing and nails. We saw no evidence that was taking place nor were there any materials to do so.`
Then two women then offered to perform sexual acts on the officers for an additional $45.
After police entered the business to make arrests, police said women attempted to flee the building out a back door. Cheng, 41, was located in her residence upstairs from the parlor.
Police arrested Cheng on charges of third degree promoting prostitution, a felony, and permitting prostitution, a misdemeanor. Feng Mei Shi, 43, and Yuxia Huang, 46, were arrested for unauthorized practice of a crime, a felony, and prostitution, a misdemeanor, and Yan Ying Wang, 39, unauthorized practice of a crime.
All of the women were arraigned in the Colonie Justice Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility. They are to reappear in court on Dec. 13.
Police said after contacting Immigration Customs Enforcement, these women were all either U.S. citizens or are here legally on work visas.“