Due to suspected human trafficking, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has issued a six-month emergency closure order for a massage parlor in Austin, which will take effect on December 2, 2024.
In addition to being barred from running another massage parlor at this address for six months, Bang Kiet Tran, d/b/a JT Spa, situated at 11416 N. Ranch Road 620, Suite I, Austin, was ordered to cease operations.
A customer who had made a quick visit to JT Spa filed a complaint with TDLR in late October. When a staff offered sexual services while doing the massage, the customer fled the establishment. The employee who had offered sexual services was expressly mentioned in the information the complainant submitted, which they had seen online on an illegal massage website.
The restaurant was inspected on-site by TDLR inspectors and investigators after the complaint. At least two employees were found to be residing at the establishment during the inspection, and at least one of the massage providers lacked a license. Other things that are not allowed in a massage parlor were also discovered by inspectors.
Regarding House Bill 3579 in Texas
On September 1, 2023, HB 3579, which was approved at the 88th Legislature Regular Session, became operative. According to the law, if TDLR or law enforcement suspect human trafficking is taking place at a massage parlor, the executive director of TDLR may issue an emergency order stopping operations.
After the statute went into force, this is TDLR’s sixteenth emergency order.
Contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733) if you believe human trafficking is taking place. Call 911 and notify the authorities if you think someone is in imminent danger or if the situation is an emergency.
If you believe a TDLR-regulated company is involved in human trafficking, you can also register a complaint against them.
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