Massage Parlor Owner Charged With Promoting Prostitution After Search Warrants Executed

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A man who owns three massage businesses in the area was arrested Thursday after an 18-month investigation into suspected human trafficking and prostitution.

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The West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force announced in an update Thursday that investigators charged Jianping Chen, 70, with four counts of second-degree promoting prostitution, a Class C felony.

Investigators say Chen owns Apple Massage Spa at 505 Hargrove Road, TuiNa Massage at 2001 Skyland Boulevard East and Eastern Massage at 3120 McFarland Boulevard in Northport.

Captain Phil Simpson, commander of the task force, said the investigation began after customers and nearby businesses reported employees offering sexual services.

As Patch previously reported, undercover officers and surveillance efforts led to Thursday’s coordinated operation, which involved multiple local and federal agencies.

Nine women were found living inside the businesses. All are adults and immigrants, and Homeland Security Investigations linguists who speak Mandarin are currently interviewing them.

“We are trying to determine who is a victim of human trafficking, and who is not,” Simpson said.

Authorities are still reviewing the women’s immigration statuses.

“These are blatant prostitution services being offered out in the open,” Simpson said. “This is what we’re trying to prevent. These people are being victimized every single time someone goes in there for a massage.”

Agencies assisting in the operation included Homeland Security Investigations, the Tuscaloosa and Northport revenue, code enforcement and building inspection departments, both city fire marshals, the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, Hoover Police Department and the University of Alabama’s Institute of Data and Analytics.

Counselors with Trafficking Hope — a nonprofit that works with law enforcement to assist human trafficking survivors — were also on scene.

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