FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – 18 people are busted during a massage parlor sting in Fresno.
The Fresno Police Department’s Vice Unit received an anonymous tip about prostitution taking place at the Angel Massage, located at 3636 N. First Street — South of Dakota.
On Wednesday morning, Vice police and the FBI conducted the undercover operation, serving a search warrant.
Upon entering the location detectives arrested three employees for operating a house of prostitution.
The massage parlor was closed and detectives collected evidence, then Vice and the FBI prepared the location in order to conduct a “reverse” operation.
The Angel Massage was re-opened, but this time undercover officers assumed the role of workers involved in the sex trade, targeting people soliciting sex.
The primary focus of the operation was on the “demand” side of prostitution, targeting people coming into massage parlor to pay for sex.
A total of 19 men were detained for soliciting an undercover officer for sex, 15 were arrested, two of the cases will be submitted to the District Attorney’s office for review.
The operation was the first of its kind to be conducted in the City of Fresno, and was in conjunction with a larger effort involving law enforcement agencies across the State of California.
In its 5th year “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild” emphasizes a unified, regional approach and sends a clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in Fresno.
January is also Human Trafficking Awareness Month which brings awareness to a widespread form of modern day slavery.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
