Several massage centers were temporarily shut down after the owner refused to close voluntarily over allegations the business establishments were used to facilitate human trafficking.
Owner Hsin Wei Chen, also known as Andrew Chen, is the owner of nine Houston and Beaumont-based massage chains: Foot Reflexology Star, Sunny Foot Massage, L&P Massage LLC, A Massage/A Reflexology Massage LLC, A Heavenly Massage, Everlasting Bliss, Ivy Massage, Ly Massage, and May Massage.
In June, Chen agreed to close all his businesses after the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issued an emergency closure order a month earlier.
The closure order was issued after an inspection at Foot Reflexology Star uncovered “several indicators” of human trafficking, per The Texan.
Despite the agreement, TDLR found that Chen continued to operate his businesses. On August 14, District Court Judge Donnie Burgess ordered a temporary injunction on all of Chen’s massage parlors.
The temporary order prohibits Chen from owning or managing any massage business in Texas. A hearing for the permanent injunction is scheduled for September 30.
In late June, another Houston-area massage establishment was closed under an emergency order. Cypress Massage was shut down due to suspected human trafficking activity.
The closure of Cypress Massage was the first time such an emergency closure order was used in the Houston area. HB 3579, which allows for the emergency closure of massage locations if suspected human trafficking is taking place, went into effect in September of last year.
“I am very proud of the effectiveness that HB 3579 has had across the state,” Rep. Ben Bumgarner (R-Flower Mound), who penned the bill, told The Texan regarding the recent injunction.
“Seeing TDLR shut down nine elicit message establishments is a good start, but we know this is just the tip of the iceberg, and there is more work to be done,” he said. “Next session, we look forward to expanding HB 3579’s impact and shutting these illegal establishments once and for all.”