KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A Hamilton woman is facing charges after it was discovered she was allegedly running an illicit massage parlor in Kent County.
Kent County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) deputies say the investigation into Just Divine, a massage parlor at 5181 Plainfield Avenue NE, has been underway for months after receiving a tip.
The parlor, which was the most attended massage parlor in the county, had mostly male clients that came from all across the state, investigators say.
"Through our investigative means, we're able to determine there's men from the east side of the state, from our own community that are coming to this business. And it's not advertised this business is not advertised, the front door is locked. So it's kind of by an appointment only, and you have know people. So there's very specific things about this business that would raise flags to maybe a normal customer," said KCSO Lt. Eric Brunner.
It was also determined that no licensed massage therapists were employed at Just Divine.
"When someone goes in with a reputable advertised, licensed massage therapist, they should have no concerns. However, when that encounter starts to turn sexual in nature, and that's through touching. That's what our investigation revealed, and we confirmed. And that's where this became a complex case to look into," added Brunner.
After obtaining an arrest and search warrant, investigators allegedly found evidence that prostitution was taking place inside the business.
The 44-year-old Hamilton woman operating the business was arrested Thursday. She is facing the following felonies:
- Keeping a House of Prostitution
- Prostitution Pandering
- Prostitution/Accepting Earnings
- Using a Computer to Commit a Crime
She is lodged at the Kent County Jail and is awaiting arraignment in the 63rd District Court.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Task Force is continuing to investigate this case. The task force handles sex and labor trafficking and works with survivors.
Brunner told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that they haven't uncovered any evidence of human trafficking at this point in the investigation.
"There is the potential to uncover, maybe someone who's been a victim of sex or labor trafficking, and that involves force, fraud, or coercion. So those are kind of the three elements that we look for in this, but we do find in these illicit underground businesses, just like you hear about these different online stings, it may not look at the surface, that it may be a sex or labor trafficking case. However, as you continue to dig down, you may find one out of the 10 people involved are. So it's kind of a spider web behind the scenes," Brunner explained.
The sheriff's department also works alongside victim services providers like Safe Haven Ministries and Crisis Aid International to provide support for victims.
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