Texas revokes dozens of massage parlor licenses linked to human and sex trafficking

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has revoked licenses and issued suspensions and penalties to dozens of massage parlor establishments within the state, many said to be linked to human trafficking and sex trafficking, according to the agency.

Since late 2023, TDLR has issued 51 emergency orders relating to human trafficking impacting 70 locations and resulting in the licenses revoked from 53 massage establishments statewide, the agency said Monday.

It appears to be part of a growing trend of massage parlors within the Lone Star State tied to human trafficking and prostitution, an investigation by Border Report has found.

The latest emergency closure order by TDLR was issued Thursday to a Houston massage establishment for suspected human trafficking.

Rainbow Foot Relax Massage, Rainbow Foot Relax and Chenxi Zou were ordered to halt operations at the establishment located at 10511 Jones Road in Houston. And they are prohibited from operating a different massage establishment at this location for the next 12 months, TDLR says.

The closure occurred after a recent joint investigation with TDLR, the FBI, Harris County Constable Precinct 4, and Harris County Sheriff’s Department “found evidence that employees at the establishment were forced to engage in prostitution. An online investigation found that the location was advertising on illicit web sites,” TDLR says.

In October, two massage establishments in Austin were closed for suspected human trafficking.

In February, TDLR ruled that Rejuve Wellness LLC, located at 1704 San Antonio Street, in Austin, was to be indefinitely closed and owner Dongming Lu is forbidden from operating massage establishments in the state indefinitely, according to the TDLR website.

Investigators found unlicensed massage therapists working at the establishment, sexual services provided at the establishment, and also found that the location was featured in online advertisements with detailed sexual content, TDLR says.

On Feb. 20, TDLR assessed a $16,000 penalty and revoked the license of Bibo Spa LLC, located at 2301 W. Parmer Lane after the agency found the facility featured online advertisements with sexual content and an employee engaged in sexual contact. TDLR found the owner “operated a sexually oriented business while holding a license under the massage program and operated as a massage establishment,” according to the agency’s website.

In November, a massage parlor in the South Texas border town of Laredo was shut down after state officials said it was tied to human smuggling and possible sex trafficking. The 168 Foot Spa was issued a lifelong operating ban by TDLR in December and its license was permanently and indefinitely revoked, according to the TDLR website.

Inspectors said it advertised sexual services on websites, and during an undercover sting a massage therapist offered sexual services to a police officer and was arrested.

At the time, that was the 14th emergency order issued by TDLR since the implementation Sept. 1, 2023 of a new state law.

The closure by the state agency falls under a bill passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2023, which allows the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s executive director to issue an emergency order halting business at any massage establishment if law enforcement or the agency believes human trafficking is occurring at the facility.

Since then, 37 additional emergency orders relating to massage parlor establishments have been issued linked to human trafficking, many establishments operating multiple facilities in multiple cities, the agency says. This includes:

• A massage establishment owner with establishments in several Texas cities including Midland, Cleburne, Amarillo and Lubbock, is banned for life from the massage industry as an establishment owner or massage therapist in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner in Burleson is banned for life from the massage industry as an establishment owner or massage therapist in Texas and ordered to pay an administrative penalty of $10,500.
• A massage establishment owner in El Paso is banned for life from the massage industry in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner in New Braunfels is banned for life from the massage industry in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner in Round Rock is banned for life from the massage industry in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner in San Antonio is banned for life from the massage industry as an establishment owner or massage therapist in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner in Corpus Christi is banned for life from the massage industry as an establishment owner or massage therapist in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner with establishments in Garland and Fort Worth is banned for life from the massage industry as an establishment owner or massage therapist in Texas.
• A massage establishment owner in San Antonio is banned for life from the massage industry as an establishment owner or massage therapist in Texas.
• A massage establishment license in Burleson was permanently revoked. If they open another establishment anywhere in Texas, the former license holder must not hire unlicensed massage therapists or allow any massage therapists to engage in sexual contact with clients. The owner also must provide human trafficking awareness training annually to all of their employees.
• An Austin massage establishment owner’s license was revoked and the owner ordered to pay $16,000 in administrative penalties.
• A massage establishment license in Houston was revoked and an administrative penalty of $8,000 was assessed.
• A massage establishment’s license in San Antonio was suspended for two months and the operator ordered to pay $5,000 in administrative penalties.
• A massage establishment license in Austin was revoked and an administrative penalty of $3,750 assessed.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring can contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Complaints also can be filed with TDLR at this website.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.