Northport Revokes Business License of Massage Parlor in Prostitution Investigation
The Northport City Council voted unanimously Monday night to revoke the business license of a massage parlor whose owners are accused of facilitating prostitution.
As the Thread reported last month, the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force raided six massage parlors after an 18-month investigation into reports that employees there were selling sex services for larger-than-normal tips after massages.
Citing the arrest of 70-year-old owner Jianping Chen on four counts of promoting prostitution, the city council voted to revoke the business license of his Eastern Massage, LLC, which was granted permission to operate in Northport in July.
Captain Phil Simpson, the commander of the Human Trafficking Task Force, attended the Monday meeting but did not expound on the investigation, which is still ongoing.
The council voted 5-0 to revoke the business license for Eastern Massage at 3120 McFarland Boulevard without asking questions or commenting on the matter during the meeting.
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