Santa Rosa massage parlors busted for operating brothels

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) — Five Santa Rosa and Petaluma massage businesses were busted for operating illicit brothels, investigators said this week.

Santa Rosa Police Department detectives partnered with city code enforcement officials to conduct inspections at several massage businesses. In addition, undercover officers posed as clients interested in paying for sex.

Inside Palm Tree Spa at 1242 College Avenue, three women described exploitative business practices and requested assistance leaving the location, police said. Detectives found a second suspected brothel, Daily Care Spa, at 699 Petaluma Boulevard in Petaluma, according to SRPD.

The investigation led detectives and FBI agents to search three more massage businesses on Tuesday in Santa Rosa: Sunset Spa at 858 Third Street, Redwood Wellness at 2323 Fourth Street, and Santa Rosa Health Center at 1203 College Avenue.

Evidence of prostitution was found, according to SRPD, including, “condoms hidden in the toilet bowl tank, lingerie, and lubricants.” The FBI provided translators, a forensic accountant, and agents to assist in arrest and search efforts. 

Multiple women had been trafficked from Asia and South America, investigators said.

Police arrested three suspects for pimping, keeping a house of prostitution, wage theft, and conspiracy.

One of the arrested suspects was identified as Hae Suk Howard, a 69-year-old woman who lives on Countryside Drive in Santa Rosa. Howard was the manager of Palm Tree Spa and Daily Care Spa, and she was the previous manager of AAA Spa, police said.

Allan Nutall, a 68-year-old San Francisco man, was also arrested. “Nutall is the business licensee for all of the massage businesses related to this investigation, and is further involved with over twenty additional massage businesses in the Bay Area. The detectives then executed a search warrant at Nutall’s apartment located at 8200 Oceanview Terrace, San Francisco,” SRPD wrote.

The third arrested suspect, 52-year-old Liqun Yao, refused to open the door when detectives arrived at her home on Amora Circle in Santa Rosa, according to police.

Detectives forced the door open and took Yao into custody. “A search of Yao’s residence yielded over $3,000 in banded cash, financial documents, unused lingerie, digital evidence, lubricants … and indicia connecting her to Santa Rosa Health Center,” SRPD wrote.

Detectives seized business documents that allegedly revealed business relationships between Nuttall, Howard, and Yao.

“The Santa Rosa Police Department has zero tolerance for massage businesses engaged in commercial sex operations,” said Police Chief John Cregan. “These establishments not only violate the law but also exploit vulnerable individuals, often victims of human trafficking.”