The crackdown on illicit massage parlors in Texas continues as the state's Attorney General, Ken Paxton, shutters another establishment in the Austin area. Paxton's office filed a lawsuit on May 15, leading to the closure of Sun Spa on Pond Springs Road, citing illegal sexual activities that an investigation by the Attorney General’s Human Traffiling Unit uncovered. The spa is the latest to fall as part of a larger state-wide push to wipe out this type of crime.
According to the Texas Attorney General's office release, Sun Spa was operating under the façade of a legitimate massage service, but the OAG's investigation brought to light the true nature of its operations. Paxton, making it clear that combating human trafficking is a top priority for his tenure, has employed the Landlord Engagement Program to enlist property owners in efforts to eradicate these crimes from their premises.
This strategy has seen success with the closure of Essence Spa previously, and the eviction of four additional illicit massage businesses in the Austin area — all following notices from their landlords who were informed about the illegal activities taking place on their properties by the OAG. In the neighboring city of San Antonio, three similar businesses were also shuttered, suggesting a ripple effect of the OAG's efforts across central Texas.
While the crackdown continues in Texas, the scope of the problem is nationwide, with an estimated 9,000 illicit massage businesses in operation across America, 1,000 of which are in Texas alone. The Attorney General’s office indicates that many women employed in these locations are victims of human trafficking, underlining the importance of the AG's campaign against such operations — to protect vulnerable populations and uphold the law.
