Massage Parlor Shut Down Over Prostitution Scheme: Report

WEST ALLIS, WI — Asian Massage, a massage parlor located at 92nd Street and Greenfield Ave. has been shut down by local authorities after police say the owner ran a prostitution operation there. The owner and two employees have been criminally charged, officials say.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, authorities began investigating the massage parlor in Aug. 2019 when West Allis police received a tip about a potential prostitution operation there.

Court records show that Li Wang, 59, of West Allis, has been charged with keeping a place of prostitution - sexual contact. Two other women - a 44-year-old West Allis woman and a 42-year-old West Allis woman, have been charged with prostitution in the scheme.

According to the criminal complaint, two undercover agents went into Asian Massage on Aug. 20 for massage treatments. Both agents reported being offered sexual contact in exchange for money - one with Wang, and the second with the 44-year-old woman.

Investigators say two more agents visited the massage parlor on Sept. 17. This time, agents reported that the 44-year-old and 42-year-old women offered sexual contact in exchange for money in separate appointments.

During both the Aug. 20 and Sep. 17 appointments, investigators said they were offered sexual services for between $40 and $60 extra in the form of a tip, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the criminal complaint, West Allis police obtained a search warrant and searched the business on Oct. 31, finding Wang and two other women.

Investigators questioned the 44-year-old woman, who told police through a Chinese Mandarin language translator. According to the criminal complaint, the woman told police that Wang "want[ed] her to [make sexual contact with customers] for money so that customers keep coming back."

The 44-year-old woman told investigators that she feared retaliation from Wang for telling the police this information, and also felt that if she did not offer sexual contact for money, that she would lose her job.