Massage Parlors Busted in Clovis

Three illegal massage parlors have been shut down in Clovis. 

Police say the businesses were used as fronts for prostitution.

Three women are under arrest, facing prostitution charges.  

Two of the massage parlors are located not far from Old Town Clovis. The third is right across the street from Sierra Vista Mall.

The arrests are tied to a sweep in October – when ten massage parlors were busted. They too were fronts for prostitution. 

Police received more complaints. They closed Lanna Thai Spa, China Massage, and Oriental Wellness Garden. Police say the businesses were offering more than massage, they were selling sex.

One woman who shops near Lanna Thai suspected something was going on. 

“It was always men going in there at odd times of day,” she said.

Businesses near the massage parlors didn’t want to talk on camera. But they told us, they saw customers often enter through the back door. And women would leave with the customers. 

The Oriental Wellness Center even appeared on a website that lists illegal massage parlors.

“Some people who had gone there posted their experiences and what they received while they were there. And we used that as a tool in our investigations as well as hold the businesses accountable,” said Corporal Vince Weibert with the Clovis Police Department.  

Clovis police say there are a hundred massage businesses in Clovis. That’s one for every thousand people in the city of a hundred thousand.

Most are reputable.  

The owner of Northern Thai Massage told us the illegal parlors give legitimate businesses a bad name. They’ve had customers come in expecting more than what’s legal.

“At some point they ask for what we definitely don't do and usually it just ends with the customer leaving,” said Jeff Hunter, owner of Northern Thai Massage.

Police are following up leads on more suspected prostitution at massage parlors. More arrests are expected.