Illicit Massage Businesses Busted In Expansive Bay Area Operation: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Police raided illicit massage businesses spanning several towns Tuesday and arrested a man connected to more than 20 massage establishments throughout the Bay Area, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

The expansive investigation began in October when three exploited women asked for help, police said.

In October 2024, Santa Rosa Police Department detectives partnered with City of Santa Rosa Code Enforcement to inspect several massage businesses in Santa Rosa, some which were suspected of human trafficking and providing illegal sexual services.

During the inspections, police said three women at the Palm Tree Spa located at 1242 College Ave. claimed they were being exploited and asked for help. Officers said they connected the women with Verity, an organization that aims to prevent human trafficking and providing survivor support.

At the time, no arrests were made, and police continued to investigate the Palm Tree Spa and the Daily Care Spa located at 699 Petaluma Blvd.

On Oct. 9 and 10, police executed search warrants at the two locations and found condoms, DVR surveillance, cellular phones and business records, according to police.

Detectives said they identified three main suspects linked to at least five illicit massage businesses in Sonoma County and ties to San Francisco.

The three suspects were linked to the Daily Care Spa in Petaluma and the Palm Tree Spa, Sunset Spa, Redwood Wellness and Santa Rosa Health Center in Santa Rosa. They face charges including pimping, pandering, prostitution, wage theft, financial crimes, and conspiracy. The Sonoma County Superior Court approved search warrants for the suspects, their homes, cars, and the three previously unsearched businesses.

“The Santa Rosa Police Department has zero tolerance for massage businesses engaged in commercial sex operations,” said John Cregan, SRPD chief of police. “These establishments not only violate the law but also exploit vulnerable individuals, often victims of human trafficking. I’m proud of the strong partnership between SRPD and the City of Santa Rosa Code Enforcement Division, which has been instrumental in identifying and stopping these illicit operations. Together, we are ensuring that businesses in our city operate legitimately, ethically, and in full compliance with the law.”

On Tuesday, Santa Rosa Police Department detectives led the large-scale search that also included the FBI.

At 6 a.m., police arrested Hae Suk Howard, 69, of Santa Rosa, during a traffic stop. Howard was the manager of the Palm Tree Spa and Daily Care Spa, detectives said.

At 7:20 a.m., police said they searched Howard’s home on the 300 block of Countryside Drive in Santa Rosa where they found financial documents, unused lingerie, and documents linking Howard to several massage businesses. In her car, detectives said they located more than $2,000, packaged together with a recent employee and customer log.

At 7:25 a.m., police said they arrested Allan Nutall, 68, of San Francisco, at his home. Nutall is the business licensee for all of the massage businesses related to the investigation, and is involved with over 20 additional massage businesses in the Bay Area, detectives said.

Police said they searched his home at 8200 Oceanview Terrace in San Francisco and found financial documents, electronic devices and documents linking him to several massage businesses. Detectives said they also found cash and documents linking Nutall to additional massage businesses in his car.

At 9:40 a.m., police said they arrested Liqun Yao, 52, of Santa Rosa, in her home on the 2600 block of Amora Circle in Santa Rosa.

Detectives said they found over $3,000 in banded cash, financial documents, unused lingerie, digital evidence, lubricants and receipts for lubricant purchases, and items connecting her to the Santa Rosa Health Center in Yao’s home.

Detectives said they seized business documents that proved business relationships between Nuttall, Howard and Yao.

At 1:35 a.m., police said they searched Redwood Wellness at 2323 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa and found condoms hidden in pill bottles, a small amount of cash and electronic devices. One woman working at the business asked for help and was provided with resources by Verity, according to police.

At the same time, detectives said they also searched the Santa Rosa Health Center at 1203 College Ave. in Santa Rosa, locating hidden cellphones, condoms hidden in the toilet bowl tank, lingerie and lubricants. One customer was at the business at the time of the search warrant, police said. He was interviewed by detectives and released from the scene. One woman at the business asked for help and was also provided resources from Verity.

At around 4:35 p.m., police said they searched the Sunset Spa at 858 Third St. in Santa Rosa, seizing lingerie, condoms in a pill bottle and role-play costumes.

All three suspects were booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility.

Howard was charged with pimping, pandering, conspiracy, keeping a house of ill fame and wage theft, police said.

Nutall and Yao were charged with pandering, conspiracy, keeping a house of ill fame and wage theft, police said.

Santa Rosa Code Enforcement also found numerous violations of the new Massage Regulation Ordinance at three massage businesses located at 1203 College Ave., 2323 4th St., and 858 Third St., police said. The violations included operational breaches, conduct issues and unauthorized habitation or alterations.

The business at 858 Third St. was condemned due to severe building and fire code violations, detectives said.

This is an ongoing investigation.