Police go undercover in spas
Two arrested for prositution in Pawtucket
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) - Just over a month after the Target 12 Investigators exposed sex for sale at a Pawtucket spa, police there have made two arrests in two separate businesses.
In a press release, Pawtucket Police Major Arthur Martins said the department sent undercover police officers into several spas in Pawtucket. On two occasions, Martin said officers were offered "sexual services in exchange for money."
"These two establishments are the Harmony Spa located at 11 Benefit St., and the Far East Accupressure located at 72 East St," Martins wrote in the release. "In each instance an undercover police officer was offered a sexual act in exchange for currency."
On Feb. 11, police said they arrested Byeong Shin, 46 of Pawtucket, at the Harmony Spa and charged her with prostitution. Seven days later they took in Jung Sook Choi, 36 of Chapel Hill, N.C. at the Far East Accupressure. Choi was also charged with Prostitution.
In an interview following the Target 12 Investigation " Dirty Little Secret ," Mayor Donald Grebien said there were four spas known to police in Pawtucket. Martins said they did visit all four spas as part of this investigation.
In February, Target 12 reported "The Daily Spa" was offering sex acts for cash. Outside the spa, target 12 undcover cameras captured only men coming and going from the spa and an undercover producer wired with hidden cameras and microphones was solicited during a massage.
Target 12 discovered Pawtucket City Councilman Albert Vitali was collecting the rent from the spa, which was housed in a building owned by a corporation in the name of his elderly mother.
Vitali denied any knowledge of prostituion and told a reporter allegations should be brought to "the proper authorities."
Days after questioning Vitali, the "Daily Spa" closed up.
Pawtucket police said investigations into the businesses they visited as part of the raid are ongoing.
