ELMHURST — A massage center was shut down last month by the city after two undercover investigations found masseuses offering sex for cash.
The Acupuncture Natural Healing Center at 76-20 Woodside Ave. was closed by a court order on Sept. 13 following a sting earlier this year involving undercover police officers, according the Queens District Attorney.
Prosecutors claim that the spa was operating illegally and was still promoting prostitution even after multiple arrests of employees — which prompted the shut down.
According to the complaint, a detective from the NYPD's vice squad entered on March 10, 2016 and was offered sex by two women in exchange for $120.
Both were arrested and charged with prostitution.
One of the women, who has not been named, was also the spa's manager and was charged additionally with promoting prostitution.
Days later, another undercover detective entered the center and was offered a massage and sex by two women, who upped the charge to $140. They were also unlicensed to give massages, and charged with prostitution and for operating without a license, according to the complaint
A third woman who offered to have sex with the detective for $80 was charged with prostitution.
An investigation later found none of the women working at Acupuncture Natural Healing Center were licensed in New York State.
It's unclear who owns the business, according to the complaint filed in the Supreme Court of Queens, who instead cited "John Doe" and "Jane Doe" along with the building owner, Chang and Du Lee.
The building owners could not be reached for comment.
