West El Paso massage parlor shut down for allegedly offering illegal sexual activities - El Paso Times

[Aaron Martinez]

A West El Paso massage parlor was shut down after an investigation allegedly revealed the owners "offered prostitution and sexual contact" to customers, authorities said.

El Paso County Attorney's Office successfully got an El Paso judge to issue an order temporarily shutting down Eastwest Healthy Center Vitamin Massage, also known as Eastwest Health Center, located in a shopping center at 7250 N. Mesa St., El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez announced. The business is located next door to a math tutorial business.

"This lawsuit is a direct result of concerns raised by residents about illegal activities in their neighborhoods,” Sanchez said in a statement. “We will not tolerate businesses that violate the law and jeopardize the safety and well-being of our community.”

Eastwest Healthy Center Vitamin Massage; Hui Xiong, identified as the owner, manager, or operator; and KM Colony Cove III LLC, the owner of the building, are named as defendants in the lawsuit. No attorneys are listed in court records for the defendants.

More:Court documents unveil reasons behind closure of West El Paso massage parlor

The El Paso County Attorney’s Office Nuisance Abatement Team filed the lawsuit Thursday, Jan. 23, seeking a temporary court order to shut down the business. The ultimate goal of the lawsuit is to permanently have the location shut down.

Judge Patrick M. Garcia of the 384th District Court granted the temporary order, and the business was forced to close Friday, Jan. 24, court records show.

A court hearing is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 3.

Undercover officers discover illegal activities at the massage parlor​

An investigation "uncovered alleged illegal activity" including staff "reportedly offering to perform masturbation on customers and undercover officers from the El Paso Police Department," county attorney officials said. The business also employed unlicensed massage therapists and allowed unlicensed individuals to perform massages.

The massage parlor is accused of failing to maintain required client records and allowing employees to illegally live on-site. The business "advertised on erotic websites featuring suggestive content and scantily clad women," officials said.

Undercover El Paso Police Department's Vice Unit detectives paid for and received massage services at the business. The officers "on each occasion, either an employee engaged in prostitution/sexual contact, specifically offering to perform masturbation on the detective," the lawsuit states.

An investigation revealed at least 29 online reviews of Eastwest Healthy Center that describe sexual contact, the lawsuit states.

More:East El Paso massage parlor shut down over allegations of providing sexual services

The business allegedly posted ads on erotic websites, including “skip the games,” “rubsguide,” “onebackpage” and “callgirlxguide." The ads featured "women wearing lingerie or little clothing, and describing 'New cute, beautiful Asian girls' and 'I have a proud bust and S-shaped figure,'" the lawsuit states.

"The defendants’ own advertisements on at least one hundred and sixty-five (165) occasions are evidence of the establishment’s reputation for being a place where sexual contact is offered," the lawsuit states. "The advertisements language, gestures, and expressions that may reasonably be interpreted as inappropriately seductive or sexual, and/or allows representation of the establishment to appear in clothing designed to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of an individual."

Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT.