Emergency closure issued at Houston massage parlor suspected of human trafficking - KHOU.com

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The emergency “shut down” was made possible by a new law that allows the state to intervene if human trafficking is suspected at massage parlors.


HOUSTON — A north Houston massage parlor has been asked to temporarily shut down after a recent state inspection found signs of possible human trafficking.


The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issued the six-month emergency closure on May 30 for a business named Hsin Wei Chen and Foot Reflexology Star on 10801 Spring Cypress Road.


It’s the first emergency closure ordered under a new Texas law that went into effect this past September. The law allows TDLR’s executive director order to halt operations at massage establishments if human trafficking is suspected.


“You can expect to see many more of these emergency orders being issued,” said TDLR spokesperson Tela Mange. “This is a really important tool for us because we know there are massage parlors out there involved in human trafficking and we now have the legal authority to shut them down while we sort out what's going on."


According to Mange, the department was notified of the suspected trafficking at Hsin Wei Chen during a routine inspection on May 22.


“They would not let our inspector in at first," she said. "There were two women on site who finally did open the door and it was obvious they were living in the establishment. There was luggage, dirty clothes, bedding.”


Mange explained there were also “excessive” cameras in the facility and other features that indicated possible signs of trafficking.


“A lot of security, having to get buzzed through to certain areas,” she said. "All those things together, we know to be indicators that there probably is some sort of human trafficking.”


Mange said the owner of the establishment has also had a previous enforcement case with TDLR involving similar conduct.


When KHOU 11 News went to the business Friday, a large sign hung above the business with the words “F U MASSAGE.” A flashing neon “OPEN” sign in the window seemed to indicate the message parlor was still open.


A woman who identified herself as an employee came to the front door and answered our questions through a language translation app. She did not appear to know about the allegations of human trafficking or the fact that the business was supposed to be closed until we told her.


The neon “OPEN” sign was later turned off, but the front door of the business was left unlocked. In a statement to KHOU 11 News, Mange said that TDLR officials would coordinate with local authorities about enforcing the closure.


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