Massage Parlor Reports

[QUOTE=PVenkman;3049203][URL]http://www.kitv.com/clip/12687796/honolulu-massage-parlor-part-of-prostitution-bust[/URL]

This video says the owners of Empire were arrested and indicted too. Shows at the end of the video.[/QUOTE]From how I heard it, they didn't get Ivy, but charged a couple of the girls that worked here as if they were the owners. I won't say who, as it's irrelevant, but it just goes to show you how the city grasps at straws sometimes. Now, I don't know how true what I just said is, but I heard it from one of the girls that they tried to charge as an owner.

As for this recent bust, based on what they've said, my guess is that they're going after owners and maybe even mamas, and are looking at girls paperwork just in case they can get a federal charge thrown in the mix, but hey, I've been wrong before.

[QUOTE=Nutmaker;3049330]From how I heard it, they didn't get Ivy, but charged a couple of the girls that worked here as if they were the owners. I won't say who, as it's irrelevant, but it just goes to show you how the city grasps at straws sometimes. Now, I don't know how true what I just said is, but I heard it from one of the girls that they tried to charge as an owner.

As for this recent bust, based on what they've said, my guess is that they're going after owners and maybe even mamas, and are looking at girls paperwork just in case they can get a federal charge thrown in the mix, but hey, I've been wrong before.[/QUOTE]They took Ivy away. They didn't arrest Papa or any of the girls as none of the girls were there when ICE came. She got tipped by her lawyer it would seem. She was there collecting booze and other stuff when they came. They let her go later and she was there with a handy man who was taking apart the tables the next day. Ivy knew it was coming, the front door camera was already gone.

[QUOTE=Blake123;3049168]In this newscast @02:23, Kaneshiro was quoted as saying the new sex trafficking law had nothing to do with the Gogo Spa case. Given the fact that Gogo Spa had been under investigation since January and the sex trafficking law was only recently passed, I can believe his statement.

[URL]http://www.kitv.com/clip/12687796/honolulu-massage-parlor-part-of-prostitution-bust[/URL][/QUOTE]I noticed that Kathryn Xian wasn't featured in the story. Most likely it's because of her own recent arrest. Must sting a bit to be left out of a news report like this.

[QUOTE=Blake123;3049315]My point was that Gogo Spa would have been busted even if there had been no new sex trafficking law. I thought it was pretty clear.[/QUOTE]Yes, the specific Hawaii law upon which the indictment is based has been in existence since 1972.

Well we all knew this was coming sooner or later. The new sex trafficking law will be a wake up call for mamas and owners. There is no way of getting around the sex trafficking because almost all the girls come from a different state to work here. So if you have 5 girls from Cali or NY that's 5 counts already of human or sex trafficking. The MP owners and Mamas may know the law and will not care because they make so much money but will realize just how serious trouble they will be in when the shit hits the fan. Will Gogo be the example of what's to come? Who knows. But I'm sure this won't be the last. Its all good till its not.

[QUOTE=PVenkman;3049203][URL]http://www.kitv.com/clip/12687796/honolulu-massage-parlor-part-of-prostitution-bust[/URL]

This video says the owners of Empire were arrested and indicted too. Shows at the end of the video.[/QUOTE]The reporter also said that several other massage parlors were also under investigation.

[QUOTE=Redneck1;3049692]Yes, the specific Hawaii law upon which the indictment is based has been in existence since 1972.[/QUOTE]Remember, the last go around, the girls were arrested for sexual assault. All the charges were dropped because they couldn't prove anything.

How can they prove that Gogo Spa was profiting from prostitution if they can't prove prostitution was occurring in the first place.

All Gogo Spa does is rent rooms for an hour to spend time relaxing with a staff member. Why is that an illegal business?

The only illegal thing would be if their employees were not legally employed or contracted. Or, they didn't pay for their business licenses.

[QUOTE=Kalani69;3049768]The reporter also said that several other massage parlors were also under investigation.[/QUOTE]At least we know the prosecutor's new strategy, go after the owners. They'll use arrested workers and John's to cooperate against the owners of these establishments. They may also pressure landlords too. All this will do is drive the sex trade underground making it less safe for all of us.

I guess going after abusive pimps is too difficult. They arrested one pimp thus far.

I've always held the belief that society allows these businesses to flourish bc they provide a vent. You remove the oldest profession then see what happens. I don't think it ends well.

Babylon is fucked up. They're not that dumb. Why else would they afford themselves to sample while investigating. The whole thing is a crock of shit.

[QUOTE=BotoMoco;3049719]Well we all knew this was coming sooner or later. The new sex trafficking law will be a wake up call for mamas and owners. There is no way of getting around the sex trafficking because almost all the girls come from a different state to work here. So if you have 5 girls from Cali or NY that's 5 counts already of human or sex trafficking. The MP owners and Mamas may know the law and will not care because they make so much money but will realize just how serious trouble they will be in when the shit hits the fan. Will Gogo be the example of what's to come? Who knows. But I'm sure this won't be the last. Its all good till its not.[/QUOTE]I believe that there will be a chilling effect on opening new establishments to replace the ones closed down. That will be the beginning of the end of AMPs in the state. I agree with DarthTyranus who said that it's going to drive the sex industry underground, where it will be available only to, and provided by, a select few.

I could not help but noticing all these busts involve Chinese operators. Hmmm. Too bad. These places had some of the hottest providers who gave us mongers great service. RIP Mayflower & Empire. Damn it.

K2.

[QUOTE=Kefe2;3050111]I could not help but noticing all these busts involve Chinese operators. Hmmm. Too bad. These places had some of the hottest providers who gave us mongers great service. RIP Mayflower & Empire. Damn it.

K2.[/QUOTE]Incidentally, if I remember correctly Empire closed in August 2015. Memories, RIP Empire.

[QUOTE=Goser;3049789]Remember, the last go around, the girls were arrested for sexual assault. All the charges were dropped because they couldn't prove anything.

How can they prove that Gogo Spa was profiting from prostitution if they can't prove prostitution was occurring in the first place.

All Gogo Spa does is rent rooms for an hour to spend time relaxing with a staff member. Why is that an illegal business?

The only illegal thing would be if their employees were not legally employed or contracted. Or, they didn't pay for their business licenses.[/QUOTE]They did find articles that normally wouldn't be present in a legit massage establishment--such as condoms, whips, etc. Circumstantial evidence, I suppose?

[QUOTE=Goser;3049789]Remember, the last go around, the girls were arrested for sexual assault. All the charges were dropped because they couldn't prove anything.

How can they prove that Gogo Spa was profiting from prostitution if they can't prove prostitution was occurring in the first place.

All Gogo Spa does is rent rooms for an hour to spend time relaxing with a staff member. Why is that an illegal business?

The only illegal thing would be if their employees were not legally employed or contracted. Or, they didn't pay for their business licenses.[/QUOTE]Although personally I hope that the GoGo Spa prosecution fails, it appears from news reports that the prosecutor will have some evidence of prostitution, because according to the prosecutor at least one provider and some "johns" are cooperating with the authorities. Additional supporting evidence could be condoms, lube, etc., seized during the raid, and credit card transaction records (GoGo Spa advertised that it accepted credit cards). Also, the prosecution could offer one of the defendants (who has already been identified as less culpable) a sweet deal to become a witness for the government.

[QUOTE=BotoMoco;3049719]Well we all knew this was coming sooner or later. The new sex trafficking law will be a wake up call for mamas and owners. There is no way of getting around the sex trafficking because almost all the girls come from a different state to work here. So if you have 5 girls from Cali or NY that's 5 counts already of human or sex trafficking. The MP owners and Mamas may know the law and will not care because they make so much money but will realize just how serious trouble they will be in when the shit hits the fan. Will Gogo be the example of what's to come? Who knows. But I'm sure this won't be the last. Its all good till its not.[/QUOTE]The question is, is this law going to be used as a real tool against the continued existence of AMPs or is it going to be used as a tool of coercion to get AMP owners to pay the fuck up. The other question is, how much of this is just talk? Talk for reelection, or just the usual PR spin elected officials shoot off ("The homeless is a challenging problem for our island ohana. We need more education for our keiki. Look at all the Hawaiian words I'm using. Rail is going to come in under budget. ") or do they really mean it (yeah, I'd be as surprised as you are if this is the case).

Also keep in mind that Kaneshiro has had a lousy track record when it comes to going up against this sort of thing — past prostitution busts and the game room prosecutions. Seems almost personal now.

So if this is some Dudley Do-Right, the outlook is very, very bad. The best case scenario is that this just part of some shakedown by the HPD.