Former owner of shuttered SF spa operating as illicit massage parlor fined $200K by city – Local News Matters

Former owner of shuttered SF spa operating as illicit massage parlor fined $200K by city  Local News Matters

The former owner of an illicit massage parlor in San Francisco that drew numerous city code violations dating back to 2019 was ordered to pay the city The former owner of an illicit massage parlor in San Francisco that drew numerous city code violations dating back to 2019 was ordered to pay the city $200,000 amid allegations that the business was operating as a brothel. The business at 428 O’Farrell St. that was owned by Ricky Lee was already shut down in 2019, when it was called Empire Massage. The city alleged that it was operating as a house of prostitution and revoked the business’ massage permit that year. But the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office alleged that the same activity was going on at the business that took its place, which Lee named Empire Relaxation Spa.

In addition to giving massages, which the business was no longer permitted to offer, workers allegedly offered undercover police sexual acts in exchange for money. The business also allegedly operated in unsafe and unsanitary conditions that drew over a dozen violations from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, according to a news release from City Attorney David Chiu’s office. Lee was ordered to refrain from starting a similar spa or massage business in California for the next decade. An attorney listed as