PLANO, Texas — For a second time in six months, the city of Plano has filed a petition for pre-suit discovery in a Collin County District Court to investigate potential claims against a massage parlor with charges of prostitution and other illicit activities.
Plano Police tells WFAA that Red Rose Spa, located at 1301 Custer Road, has been at the center of police investigations over several years. Over that time it has changed ownership hands and store-front names, police believe, to circumvent licensing and records. Filing a civil claim is a different approach to address what police feel are ongoing illicit activities at Red Rose Spa.
"[Enforcement] is not making a dent in anything. They're paying the fine and moving on," said Plano Police Public Information Officer Jennifer Chapman. "Our criminal enforcement was not enough. It just wasn't working so we had to pivot to this direction," the officer told WFAA.
Chapman tells WFAA the establishment has been cited for operating without a massage license, and two people have been arrested for prostitution. Also named in the suit are Malyeob James and Ji Won Lee.
Police hope the discovery from the civil claim will yield a huge return in vital information about the trafficking networks.
"I think it's great. It hurts them where it hurts the most: their wallet," said Chong Kim who is an advocate for victims. She tells us she is a survivor after being trafficked at massage spas in 3 different states more than 30 years ago.
WFAA walked inside Red Rose Spa for comment. A woman up front invited the reporter inside and after we told her we were with WFAA working a story she showed us cards pinned to the walls over the massage tables that read they 'do not engage in prostitution.'
"Oh that's common. That's very common," said Kim. "If you have nothing to hide, why do you put up a sign?" she said.
A quick glance of the web searches that are returned for Red Rose Spa show overtly sexualized marketing which Chong says is a red flag. The woman inside the spa spoke with our reporter with limited English. When asked about the allegations, she said simply, "This is wrong information."
In a statement from the City of Plano sent to media outlets, it reads:
"As a result, the City of Plano, pursuant to Rule 202 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, is now seeking court-authorized pre-suit discovery to obtain detailed information about those with ownership in or responsibility for the sex trade hiding behind the façade of a shopping center near a residential neighborhood. This action will allow the city to vigorously investigate and possibly sue owners, landlords, employees, and customers who engage in these types of illegal activities."
Chong Kim, who is currently working on an anti-trafficking film called "Every 40 Seconds," says it is vital for any policing agency to understand who are the bad actors and who are not. Kim says the title behind the people refers to the statistic that a child goes missing every forty seconds and one in four children are exploited through trafficking.
"You have to separate the victims from the traffickers and the buyers," said Kim.
A civil petition was also filed against Tennyson Wellness Center and Diana Zhang in 2023 which resulted in the permanent closure of that business according to Plano Police.
"The offenses are occurring. It's just a matter of keeping up with all the activity," said Chapman.