POWELL — The city of Powell is considering legislation establishing operating standards for massage parlors after a police investigation earlier this year uncovered what authorities say was a human trafficking operation at a local spa.
During Tuesday’s Operations Committee meeting, Police Chief Ron Sallows outlined several regulations he believes could help deter illicit businesses from opening in Powell, including requiring massage therapists to hold an Ohio license.
The discussion comes about three months after police executed a search warrant at K Spa, 240 N. Liberty St., following a months-long investigation into suspected illegal activity at the business.
The warrant led to the arrest of owner Yixiang He, who faces charges of money laundering, promoting prostitution and practicing medicine without a license. He remains in the Delaware County Jail awaiting an Aug. 4 jury trial.
Since the investigation, Sallows has asked city officials to revisit regulations governing massage parlors to prevent future human trafficking.
He also now requires his detective staff to provide a quarterly report about any illicit activity from the 13 active parlors in the city.
Sallows emphasized the proposal is not intended to cast suspicion on the industry as a whole.
“The purpose of today’s discussion is not to suggest that massage businesses or the individuals who work in them are inherently associated with criminal activity,” he said. “The vast majority are legitimate businesses and professionals who provide lawful and valuable services to our community.”
Officials revisit operating standards
Powell previously considered regulations for massage parlors in 2019 and again in 2022, but council never adopted them. Now, the city is revisiting the previously proposed regulations.
In 2022, police, city staff and council discussed:
- Limiting business hours.
- Requiring massage parlor entrances face public streets.
- Requiring open access to reception areas of the business during business hours.
- Requiring massage therapists who are not licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio to obtain a conditional use permit from the city.
Massage therapists need state licensure to provide massages for therapeutic purposes, pain relief or injury rehabilitation. With Ohio law now, massage therapists do not have to have a license if they are performing relaxation massages only.
The Operations Committee will review proposed legislation prepared by city staff at a future meeting before sending it to council for approval.
Requiring a massage license is key
Sallows invited Powell Detective Sgt. Ryan Pentz and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Investigator Aaron Dennis to explain why they believe requiring massage therapists to hold an Ohio license is one of the most effective deterrents available to the city.
“We still have businesses operating in the city of Powell today that advertise deep-tissue or medical-grade massages,” Pentz said. ”It’s completely unknown if they have a license to do that or not.”
Dennis said investigators have found that some businesses advertising those services lacked licensed massage therapists while also advertising on websites known for prostitution.
He added that several central Ohio communities, including Upper Arlington, Delaware and Pickerington, already require massage therapists operating within their cities to hold Ohio licenses.
Requiring massage therapists be licensed in Ohio creates a regulatory hurdle for people looking to open an illegitimate business, Dennis said. Obtaining a license requires hundreds of hours of training and certification.
He pointed to a duo who tried to open a massage parlor in Pickerington.
“Because they had to have that license, they did not open up there. They opened up in another area in Fairfield County, and the sheriff’s office actually dealt with them,” Dennis said. “When we interviewed them, they told us they avoided Pickerington because of that license requirement.”
Dennis also said requiring licensure gives cities additional enforcement tools against businesses operating without properly credentialed massage therapists.
