Hopkins Considers Revoking Two More Massage Licenses

Hopkins officials want to revoke two more massage licenses because of alleged business violations, according to the packet for Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The action arises because of allegations that Wonderland Asian Massage had more than the lone masseuse allowed under that business’ massage therapy establishment license.

Staff are asking the City Council to revoke the license of Julio Alaniz, who was doing business as Wonderland Asian Massage at 7 Seventh Ave. N., because of accusations that he failed to properly supervise an employee or independent contractor. They also want to revoke the license of Yang Yu, who is accused of hiring unlicensed masseuses.

Police investigated the massage parlor after noticing customer activity that was “inconsistent with a single licensed therapist,” according to a staff report. An accompanying police report written by Officer Mark Kyllo states that there were a number of vehicles parked in the parking lot and patrons coming and going between 9:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week.

An undercover officer visited the business multiple times and received two separate massages from three masseuses during a two-week period starting April 21, according to the police report.

After one of the visits, officers went in, identified themselves and spoke with a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman through a Mandarin Chinese interpreter. The woman said that a woman they only knew as “Yang” hired them. When asked if they had city licences, they said they had their “federal license” but left them at home.

City Council members will consider whether to revoke the licenses at Tuesday’s council meeting.

If the staff recommendation goes through, the licenses will be the fourth and fifth massage license revoked since the City Council created a new massage parlor ordinance in 2011 in response to reports of prostitution at local establishments.

In June 2012, the council revoked the massage licenses for two businesses accused of permitting prostitution and a masseuse accused of engaging in prostitution.