Undercover investigations across Long Island ended with five women in custody on Friday, as authorities moved in on massage businesses accused of offering sexual services. Two arrests were made in Huntington Station and three more in Massapequa, in coordinated operations that pulled in county detectives along with local code and fire inspectors, according to police reports.
Two Arrests At Huntington Station Spa
Suffolk County investigators say Second Precinct detectives, working with the Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and ordinance inspectors, searched Well Spa on East Jericho Turnpike and arrested Jie Di, 48, of Queens, and Minhua Guo, 34, of Stony Brook. Both women were charged with Unauthorized Practice of a Profession and were issued desk appearance tickets. The Town of Huntington also issued five violations to the business, according to a Suffolk County Police press release reported by TBR News Media.
Three Arrests In Massapequa
In Nassau County, members of the Narcotics Vice Squad arrested three women after an undercover prostitution probe at a Jerusalem Avenue location in Massapequa. Detectives identified the arrestees as Xiaomei Ye, 46, of Whitestone, Danping Yu, 62, of Amityville, and Yan Hua Lin, 45, of Flushing. Yu was charged with promoting prostitution in addition to unauthorized practice, while Ye and Lin were charged with prostitution and unauthorized practice, as reported by Daily Voice. According to the same report, Yu was scheduled for arraignment in Hempstead, while Ye and Lin received desk appearance tickets returnable later this month.
What The Charges Mean
Under New York law, Unauthorized Practice of a Profession is a felony. The State Office of the Professions notes that practicing a licensed profession without authorization can be prosecuted under Education Law §6512. Prostitution and "promoting prostitution" are addressed in Article 230 of the Penal Law, where offenses range from misdemeanors to felony counts depending on conduct and aggravating factors. Penalties vary by charge and circumstance. For the full statute language, see Education Law §6512 and Article 230 of the Penal Law.
Crackdown Along East Jericho Turnpike
The East Jericho Turnpike corridor has been a recurring target for enforcement, with Suffolk County officers repeatedly teaming up with town fire and building inspectors to shut down and cite unlicensed operations. A run of press releases compiled by TBR News Media highlights multiple raids and desk appearance tickets issued in the area over the past year.
Next Steps
Authorities say the investigations remain active. Some of those arrested have already been issued desk appearance tickets, and at least one defendant was listed as scheduled for a Hempstead arraignment, per reporting by Daily Voice. Police have asked anyone with relevant information to contact Nassau or Suffolk County detectives through their tip lines.
