Massage parlor workers busted for prostitution

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Police say employees at a couple of local massage parlors offer more than just back rubs.

Two local prostitution stings in the last two months, one as recently as last week, have landed three people in cuffs on charges relating to the solicitation of sexual services.

Undercover investigators first struck New Healing Touch, 4685 Manhattan College Parkway, on Dec. 22. According to a complaint filed by the Bronx District Attorney’s office, an officer visited the massage parlor and the defendant offered to touch his penis in exchange for money. Yingji Li, 40, was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor prostitution count.

Ms. Li’s arrest came less than three weeks after state Sen. Jeff Klein sent a letter to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly requesting that the NYPD look into New Healing Touch.

“My office had reached out to the Bronx Vice Squad to communicate our concerns with the massage parlor,” Mr. Klein wrote in the letter. “I understand that in the course of an investigation, law enforcement is sometimes limited in what information it can reveal. However, after several inquiries we have been unable to confirm that an investigation is ongoing. I would respectfully ask that you look into the matter … ”

A similar sting at Riverdale Skin & Body, 3733 Riverdale Ave., yielded two arrests. Kim Kisook, 36, was taken in for prostitution and Eun Lee, 53, for permitting prostitution.

An advertisement posted on the classifieds website backpage.com for services at the Riverdale Skin & Body location pitched the business as offering “SENSUAL RELAXATION BY ASIAN HOTTIES” and “THE BEST Sensual Bodywork in the Bronx!”  It also advertised the location’s “Great Table Shower.”

According to Urban Dictionary, an online slang reference, table shower denotes a service in which a masseuse bathes a customer who is lying on a table, “First face down then on your back so particular attention can be paid to private parts.”

Graham Kates, New Healing Touch, Sen. Jeff Klein, Riverdale Skin & Body, Capt. Kevin Burke, 50th Precinct, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.
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