2 LI Spas Closed After Sex Acts Performed On Clients: Town Officials

BABYLON, NY — The owner of two spas that were shut down after employees performed sex acts for paying customers tried to reopen them recently — by sending unidentified individuals into Babylon Town Hall in April, town officials told Patch.

The Hawaii Foot Spa on Deer Park Avenue was shut down Feb. 9 after town attorneys received complaints of sexual acts being offered to customers and conducted an investigation, Town of Babylon Director of Communications Ryan Bonner said.

Town attorneys also revoked the licenses for the Go Spa in West Babylon. Both spas were owned by Ji Bing of Flushing, Bonner said.

"Both locations were served court summonses by the town attorneys office for violating town code 148 3(B)(4)(G), which prohibits any massage therapist from performing any act that requires them to touch the patrons genital area," Bonner told Patch.

The issue was revisited in April after an unidentified man and woman entered Babylon Town Hall separately and requested to reopen the Hawaii Foot Spa under a new name.

After meeting with town officials and "speaking about the past issues," the woman revoked the permit application.

"I do not feel comfortable with them using my name for this, I no longer wish to apply," she reportedly told Town Hall staff.

Meanwhile, officials said the man claimed to represent the spa's owner and also requested that the establishment be reopened.

According to the town, the man was "informed multiple times" that the town could not discuss the matter with him since his name is not on any documents.

Although the man was instructed to submit a new application, he "refused" to do so, Bonner said.

Town reps said that after the permit renewal was rejected, the landlord of the Hawaii Foot Spa refused to renew the lease, putting an end to the owner's attempts to reopen.

"The Town of Babylon has prioritized the enforcement of quality of life offenses, including prostitution," said Babylon Commissioner of Public Safety Jerry Gigante. "We will continue to monitor any locations believed to be operating illegally, and will respond accordingly with arrests, summonses, or public nuisance hearings against the property when warranted."

The building's landlord declined to comment.