Raids net spa arrests

By Wynne Parry
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/16/2008 02:35:52 AM EDT


STAMFORD - Two women were arrested on immigration charges as seven massage parlors received surprise visits Thursday night from a task force of federal immigration officials the city health department, local and state police.

The collaboration resulted in two arrests for immigration violations and an unspecified number of health code violations.

The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency arrested two female Korean citizens for violating immigration laws. One arrest was at the Four Seasons, also known as the Palm Tree, at 985 E. Main St. The other was at The Lotus at 1053 E. Main St., said Lt. Jon Fontneau, who commands the narcotics and organized crime squads.

The names of the woman were not available because immigrations officials could not be reached.

State police charged with investigating human trafficking also were in attendance.

Health department inspectors found numerous violations, including unsanitary conditions, electrical problems and the presence of living quarters in a commercial establishment, according to William Callion, the city's public safety director.

He could not supply the number of violations or the associated penalties.

The other facilities visited were the Swedish Health Spa at 197 Main St., the Ginja Spa at 207 Atlantic St., the Far East Spa at 110 Prospect St., the Fuji Spa at 39 Grenhart Road and the Harmony Holistic Center at 37 Glenbrook Road.

Unlike an undercover operation, Thursday's effort did


not require officers to put themselves in compromising positions, and it provided police with a different method to approach such businesses, Fontneau said.
Although city police made no prostitution arrests, they came close, he said.

"In a couple of locations, we had men in an undressed state who were probably alerted to our presence," he said.

- Staff Writer Wynne Parry can be reached at 964-2263 or wynne.parry@scni.com.




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