Harris County Judge Orders Seven Spas Closed Because of Prostitution

HOUSTON,TX — Authorities have shut down seven more 'houses of ill-repute," also known as massage parlors where prostitution is promoted.

A Harris County judge issued a nuisance ruling closing 'spas' in the city's west and northwest sides. The establishments shut down include:
· “A” Spa, owned by Karl Todd Erickson, and New Haven Spa, owned by Zhang Yu Juan, both located at 8320 Gulf Freeway, I-45 South, and Howard Dr.
· 249 Spa, 14901 State Highway 249·
· JC Spa, 2900 Hillcroft Ave. between Westheimer and Richmond
· Mam Spa and Paris Spa, 13662 Westheimer Rd., about 0.5 miles west of Eldridge Parkway South
· Oak Spa, 9544 Richmond, about one-third mile east of South Gessner Road

Dan Ma —owner of the Mam, Paris, Oak, 249 and JC spas — was previously arrested and charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution in connection with operating unlicensed spas.

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The judges order also compels the owner of four of the retail centers housing the spas — 8320 Gulf Freeway, 9544 Richmond Ave., 13660 Westheimer Rd. and 2900 Hillcroft Ave. — to stop leasing space to spas, massage establishments and sexually oriented businesses.

The strip center owners were also ordered to install security cameras on their property and to perform background checks on future tenants.

The owner of the center at 14901 State Highway 249 was ordered not to lease space to any tenant who operates an unlicensed spa, message establishment, a sexually oriented business, or a game room.

Alex C. Luk, who owns the Gulf Freeway and Westheimer Road properties, has previously had run ins with the court. In 2010, he was ordered to stop allowing unlicensed massage parlors to operate out of his Westheimer Road property.

Last year Luk was found guilty of violating a court order relating to another property he owns on South Gessner, he was compelled to revoke the lease of unlicensed bars and game rooms operating out of his property. When Luk failed to do that he was punished for contempt.

Everyone involved, the owners of the spas and shopping centers, had to post a $5,000 bond to ensure compliance with the court order. The case is set for a November trial.

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