Following multiple complaints about illicit activity taking place at local massage establishments, Simi Valley police officers conducted undercover sting operations last month that resulted in two prostitution arrests.

According to Lt. David Livingstone, Simi Valley Police Department’s Special Problems Section used information obtained during investigations and from confidential informants to carry out the sting operations.

Undercover cops were sent into businesses in December and made arrests after being solicited for specific sex acts by massage therapists.

Officers arrested two San Gabriel Valley residents: Yang Chen, 40, at W & H Massage, 1784 Erringer Road; and Zing Zhou, 43, at West Coast Massage, 1790 E. Los Angeles Ave.

Because they were arrested on misdemeanor charges, both women were released on a written promise to appear in court.

The police department recently stepped up enforcement of the laws regarding massage therapy facilities and activities after Mayor Bob Huber publicly brought the issue to the fore in November. The mayor had been contacted by several business owners who were concerned about massage parlors engaging in illegal activity near their shops.

Huber was particularly angry to learn that many of these massage parlors were listed online, their names and locations easily accessible with details on what sex acts are available.

The mayor was reluctant to comment on the two recent arrests, saying he didn’t want to compromise the police department’s investigation or the subsequent prosecution of the individuals. But Huber said it’s the goal of the City Council to drive these types of businesses out of Simi Valley.

“This is a family-oriented town. We are trying to use every single resource at our disposal to root out these illicit massage parlors,” he said.

Livingstone said police are actively monitoring all massage establishments, particularly the ones known to be “more problematic,” and continually conducting sting operations.

“We’ve gotten intelligence information on several locations in town. . . . reports from neighboring businesses that see men coming and going during all hours of the night and it looks suspicious,” he said.

Still, the lieutenant was careful to note that not all massage facilities conduct illicit activities.

“Mind you, there are some spas and health clubs out there where this isn’t going on at all.”

Although the issue has received greater attention recently, the problem isn’t new. In fact, the City Council in May 2009 placed a moratorium on the establishment of new massage establishments and the permitting of new therapists due to a proliferation of storefronts employing masseuses who engaged in illegal sexual conduct.

The moratorium was temporary, however, ending four months later with the implementation of Senate Bill 731, which created a statewide voluntary regulatory system for massage therapy and essentially took oversight ability away from cities. Under that law, massage therapists and practitioners can get a state-issued certificate authorizing them to practice massage in any city or county without being required to obtain a local license or permit.

Further complicating the matter is the way prostitution is defined under the penal code.

Though Simi PD has long been aware of the problem with sex parlors masquerading as legitimate massage therapy facilities, it’s difficult for officers to make a prostitution arrest because there must be solicitation of a sex act in exchange for money, not just the act itself. Still, any unwanted touching could result in a sexual battery charge, Livingstone said.

To aid the fight against sex parlors, City Attorney Tracy Noonan has been working on revising the city’s ordinance to give local law enforcement a bit of its power back while complying with changes in state law.

“When the bill was passed it basically preempted all control for cities to regulate massage establishments,” Noonan said. “So the draft ordinance is going to require massage establishments and their technicians to comply with this new certification process by the state.”

In essence, the ordinance would make the voluntary state program mandatory in Simi Valley.

The draft ordinance is being reviewed by the police department.

Once it is finalized, it will be brought to the City Council. Noonan said she’s hoping to bring the proposed ordinance forward during the last meeting in January or the first in February.

Solicitation for prostitution is a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a fine. But solicitation may not be the only crime being committed at these businesses. It is often connected with organized crime and human trafficking and therefore not a “victimless” crime, Livingstone said.

“What we’ve found and what a lot of other cities have found is there are times . . . when women doing this work are doing it against their will,” he said.

“These women are brought into the country for this specific purpose,” Livingstone continued. “So the real problem here we are trying to get at are the people behind the operation. It’s like narcotics—you can arrest users, but you want to get the dealers, the suppliers.”

The Special Problems Section will continue its rigorous enforcement of regulations at massage establishments, targeting business owners and managers who allow and encourage illegal activities.

Detectives will also target those customers who frequent massage businesses for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual behavior.

“We just want people to know that if they are going in and doing this, they might be walking right into an operation and get arrested,” Livingstone said, “and their name will be in the paper next.”

Anyone with information on illicit activity at a local massage business is asked to contact the department’s Special Operations Unit by calling (805) 583-6950.