Warrants tie North Augusta massage businesses to prostitution, human trafficking

Six North Augusta massage businesses searched during an Aug. 16 raid are suspected of allowing — even encouraging — prostitution and commercial sex activities, and they may be involved in human trafficking, according to search warrants.

The investigation is ongoing, and the result of the searches is largely redacted from warrants.

Each business had the same finding: “Based upon all the facts obtained during this multi-agency investigation it is believed that the business allows and possibly encourages acts of prostitution and commercial sex by its employees. Further, agent experience indicates that the employees, who have been identified as Asian in descent, are possibly victims of human sex or labor trafficking.”

The warrants, signed by Judge Danny Lynn on Aug. 15, were executed the following day at GA Avenue Massage and Leisure Massage, both of these located on Georgia Avenue; Lili's/Lisa's Massage on Marketplace Drive; T Aroma Massage on West Martintown Road; Lotus Massage on Edgefield Road and Flower Massage on Edgewood Drive.

The inventory of property seized at these businesses was also redacted from the returns on the warrants; this information filled between a quarter page and full page of inventory found for each of the businesses.

Officers were looking for, among other things, “any items relating to commercial sex” that includes “elements of contraception, lubricants, sex toys, lingerie, clean up rags/towels/tissues, items containing seminal/vaginal fluids, or other items specific to sex,” according to the warrants.

Officers also sought data such as emails, “ledgers, lists, records, documents, videos or photographs” that depicted employees “engaged in criminal acts of prostitution or commercial sex”; as well as documentation for “women or persons employed in commercial sex activities” and “information about clientele or ‘Johns.'”

According to the warrants, video recording devices and computer systems, as well as documentation that would establish the business as a legal entity within the city of North Augusta, were also subject to search, as were employment records, financial information and information on employees' legal working status such as visas, passports and state-issued licenses for performing massage.

Outside of North Augusta, the T Aroma Massage on Eastgate Drive in Aiken is also part of this investigation, which is being conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Agencies involved are North Augusta Department of Public Safety, Aiken Department of Public Safety, Aiken County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and State Law Enforcement Division.

Renée Wunderlich, director of public information for SLED, urged again this week that any information that people may have could help these agencies in their investigation.

Tips can be submitted to local law enforcement or to SLED at [email protected].