Austin massage parlors closed over trafficking and illegal service allegations - KEYE TV CBS Austin

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AUSTIN, Texas — State regulators have ordered the emergency closure of two Austin massage establishments amid allegations of human trafficking and illegal sexual services.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issued six-month closure orders on Oct. 15 for Rejuve Wellness LLC on San Antonio Street and Bibo Spa LLC on West Parmer Lane.

At Bibo Spa, investigators found employees living on the premises, and one worker reported being forced to provide sexual services to customers to pay off debts owed to owner Tuyen Thi Nguyen. The business was also linked to online advertisements and reviews describing sexual services.

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Rejuve Wellness, owned by Dongming Lu, was found to be employing unlicensed massage therapists and offering sexual services, according to investigators. The establishment was also featured in sexually explicit online advertisements.

The closures mark the twelfth and thirteenth emergency orders issued under a new state law that took effect September 2023, allowing TDLR to immediately shut down massage establishments suspected of human trafficking.

Authorities urge anyone with information about human trafficking to contact the National Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text "HELP" to 233733.