New York City Police Department shut down six massage parlors suspected of being illegal brothels in a raid in Queens on Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on social media.
Speaking at a briefing shortly before the raid, Francisco Moya, a city councilman representing Queens, said the massage parlors and their alleged illegal prostitution activities were well known among residents and business owners on Roosevelt Avenue in the Corona area.
After Moya reportedly conveyed voters' concerns to Adams, the mayor assembled a team of police and city officials to monitor sex trafficking activity at massage parlors, one of which is about 50 feet from a school where children usually pass by to get to and from school.
At a media briefing before the raid, Adams said police witnessed the massage parlors "fully operational" at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. After an investigation, a judge issued a court order Thursday afternoon allowing police to search and close the shops.
Kaz Daughtry, assistant chief of the New York City Police Department, warned the owners of illegal brothels: "We're coming, we're going to send undercover agents, and we're going to do everything the law allows to get you closed." If you reopen, change the name. We will repeat the process. Come back and shut you down. ”
Police reportedly stormed a beauty salon in Jackson Heights around 4:45 p.m., an action that was strongly supported by nearby businesses. Some business owners said that some prostitutes would solicit business in front of their shops in broad daylight, causing them great distress.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Adams wrote: "Prostitution is not a victimless crime involving sex trafficking, sexual abuse and more. There are a lot of concerns in the community, and we are taking action. ”
The New York City Police Department said in a statement that 12 locations on Roosevelt Avenue have been closed in two weeks on suspicion of sex trafficking following this week's raids.
It is reported that the women who work in these locations are not the targets of this raid, but the victims. So far, the identity of the owner of the alleged sex trade shop has not been determined, and it is unclear what charges they will face.