BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont massage parlor appears to still be operating after the state ordered it to shut down after the owner was linked to human trafficking.
A Houston-area businessman settled with the state on Friday amid a suspected human trafficking investigation at one of his businesses.
Wei Chen had his massage therapist license revoked. He agreed to shut down his eight businesses across the state, including two massage parlors in Beaumont, called Ivy Massage and A Massage.
A Massage was supposed to close on Friday, June 21, but the doors were open when 12News went by to investigate on Monday. Employees also answered the phones, willing to book appointments.
They even sent a message to us Monday night that detailed their hours and prices, asking what time we wanted to book an appointment.
12News reached out to the state to see if it was okay for the businesses to still be in operation, to which they responded, "They're supposed to be closed now. Continued operation of the establishment may result in the imposition of additional penalties and sanctions. We are in contact with local law enforcement to inform them of the action we've taken, and will evaluate other actions we may be able to take against the establishment and its owner."
These closures are the first of their kind in Texas. The new law gives the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) the authority to shut down massage establishments if human trafficking is suspected.
The TDLR says a routine inspection into a Houston-area message business, lead to it's closure.
"She showed up, they wouldn't let her in initially," said TDLR Communications Manager Tela Mange. "And they finally did and once she went in she started seeing a lot of things that, to her, she knew from her experience indicated that there might be human trafficking."
Seven other massage businesses owned by Chen were closed, including Ivy Massage and A Massage.
However, when 12News walked into A Massage on Tuesday afternoon, the front door was unlocked. We were greeted by a camera and sign that read 'Smile you're on camera'.
There was no one in the front lobby and a locked door lead to the rest of the building. The doorbell was rang multiple times, but no one answered.
TDLR says that's the first red flag that you're in an illegitimate massage establishment.
"There are a lot of cameras and they are very security conscious and you have to get buzzed in," Mange said.
Mange also shares other signs that a business may be involved in human trafficking.
"You see luggage hanging around in the hallways, and it looks like there are beds, that are not massage beds...if they are wearing sexually suggestive clothing and not scrubs or things that legitimate massage therapist would wear." said Mange.
Mange says human trafficking at massage parlors usually includes a few things.
"At massage parlors, typically it's either going to be, human trafficking is going to either take the form of labor trafficking. people being made to work for very little money, or no money. Could also involve sex trafficking," she said.
A nearby business owner told 12News they would often see the employees of the parlor in robes. This raised concerns for them.
"My daughter kept saying 'mama she looks young'," the owner said.
The business owner says they were concerned when they heard about the closures.
"That's kind of scary I wasn't aware of, the sex trafficking, just thought it was a regular massage parlor," the business owner who wished to remain anonymous said.
Ivy Massage on North Major also owned by Chen, appeared to be closed today. Workers at a nearby business said they're glad.
"If you do then you should do the business to get the customer, not to do all that other stuff, you know what I'm talking about?" said an anonymous nearby worker.
The TDLR says they'll continue to work with Beaumont Police to keep tabs on this case to make sure all locations are closed.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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