Deputies have arrested three women suspected of working as sex workers at Pico Rivera massage parlors. Jeff Walker who works at the bureau. Arrests were made at three of the parlors, while deputies did not find any evidence of illegal activity at the fourth location, Walker said.
The arrests were made after deputies questioned employees at each of the businesses. They suspect that the three women, aged in their late 30s or early 40s, engaged in prostitution with clients at the parlors.
The women were asked if they were victims of human trafficking or sexual assault. All three said they were not. The businesses face the possibility of being accused of criminal nuisance abatement, Walker said. Investigators plan to look into the conduct of the business owners. Most times the owners will deny any knowledge of illegal behavior.
Walker said owners often claim that even though they keep record of cash flow, what happens behind closed doors is unknown to them. Finding enough evidence to implicate a store owner typically relies on statements from the sex workers themselves.
This is also difficult to come by. Walker said code enforcement officials with the city were also on hand during the raids. By Jonah Valdez jvaldez scng. The names of the suspects were not immediately available.
