An employee at a massage parlor in Williamsburg has been arrested after allegedly offering sexual favors to an undercover police officer.
On Feb. 22, the employee at Sanyt Day Spa, Manni “Mimi” Chen, 43, was charged with prostitution and unlawful conduct after an undercover officer reported her to have elicited sexual activity during an appointment, said Charlie Ericsson, spokesman for the Williamsburg Police Department.
The investigation into the business, located at 908 Capitol Landing Road, began a couple of weeks ago after a number of clients filed complaints with police, Ericsson said.
Ericsson did not have an exact number of how many complaints were filed but he said at least one of them was reported in the week prior to the arrest.
Reports said the business was “eliciting sexual activity, specifically prostitution,” according to the criminal complaint.
The undercover officer requested a massage with Chen, then audio recorded the interaction.
Halfway through the massage, when the officer was told to flip onto his back, Chen allegedly placed her hand on the officer’s penis above the towel covering him, according to the criminal complaint. She then started a conversation about wanting “manual sexual gratification,” also known as a “hand job,” according to the complaint.
The officer and Chen agreed on $60 for the act. Following the discussion, the officer made an excuse and left the business, according to the complaint.
Officers then took out a search warrant and they found “evidence “of prostitution, according to a police news release. Ericsson declined to reveal what evidence was found as the investigation is still ongoing.
Chen was taken to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail where she was later released on bond. The Williamsburg-James City County General District Court did not have information on how much the bond was or what day Chen was released.
Sanyt Day Spa operations are suspended while the investigation into the business is on-going, Ericsson said.
During the investigation, officers have collected the business’s bookkeeping and ledger records to be analyzed by the city’s commissioner of revenue, Ericsson said.
The arrest comes nearly two months after the City of Williamsburg passed new codes that would put heavier regulations on spa and massage businesses in the area.
The code requires operations maintain a more rigorous record system with dates, times, patron and massage therapist names. Ericsson said the investigation will look into whether the business was in compliance with the new regulations.
Additional charges against Chen may be filed as more information comes forth from the investigation, police said. Officers are investigating whether there other employees involved in the clandestine interactions .
If anyone has information, contact the Williamsburg Police Department or the Peninsula Crime Line at 888 LOCK-U-UP.
Correction: This article previously listed the location for Sanyt Day Spa as 900 Capitol Landing Road. The location is 908 Capitol Landing Road.
