Detectives from numerous federal and local agencies served simultaneous search warrants on Thursday at six businesses and four residences, including one in Kent, in connection with allegedly using massage parlors as fronts for prostitution.
The other locations were in unincorporated King County, Burien, Seattle and one property in Snohomish County, according to a King County Sheriff’s Office media release.
The Kent home was in the 22500 block of 135th Avenue Southeast, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives arrested nine people. Three of those people were booked into jail for investigation of promoting prostitution. The investigation will continue over the coming weeks, with the possibility of more arrests. Charges of promoting prostitution are likely along with associated financial crimes.
Detectives started the investigation three months ago after complaints from residents in the Burien area over activity at massage parlors in the city. Detectives were able to determine employees in these businesses were engaging acts of prostitution.
Many of the workers at these businesses are exploited by the owners via excessive fees levied against them for rent and other charges. This results in the employees never being able to get out of debt to the owners, trapping them in a never-ending cycle of victimization, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer said his agency sees this operation as part of his departments “commitment to some of the most vulnerable people in our community that are repeatedly exploited by human traffickers.”
Five of the businesses searched were in Burien, and each will have its license revoked by city of Burien code enforcement.
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