St. Charles massage business suspended, fined for code violations
A St. Charles massage establishment has been fined $1,000 and had its license suspended for 21 days after it was charged with a series of ordinance violations related to supervision, licensing and massage conduct.
Summer Spa Massage, 1550 E. Main St., also was placed on probation until Aug. 30 and is subject to periodic compliance checks, the city announced this week in a news release.
The penalties were set by Mayor Ray Rogina, who serves as the liquor control commissioner, following a Feb. 18 hearing. The business pleaded not guilty to six of seven offenses that police say occurred on four separate dates in October and November.
According to the complaint filed by Police Chief James Keegan, Summer Spa violated the city's massage establishment code by allowing employees to give massages without valid licenses; not having a licensed massage therapist supervising the business at all times; and failing to display licenses in a prominent place.
A therapist also is accused of exposing the genitals of an undercover officer, who was receiving a massage as part of an investigation into allegations of suspected prostitution, according to the complaint and hearing testimony.
Following up on an anonymous tip, an undercover officer visited Summer Spa multiple times last fall to receive a massage and request sexual acts from employees. They never accepted his proposition, the officer said, but during an Oct. 25 massage, one therapist removed the towel from his genitals, squirted him with lotion and said he could pleasure himself.
Using a translator, Summer Spa owner Hong Shen denied the claims, and said any employee would be fired immediately if she heard such behavior had occurred.
The undercover sting resulted in the arrest of two employees, Chicago residents Dongyuan Wan and Xiyan Wan, who were charged with violating the state massage licensing act. Police said they are accused of giving massages without a valid license.
Attorney Kevin Wendorf said the workers were certified by a National Organization for Asian Bodywork Therapies, which they believed was an appropriate credential. All therapists employed by Summer Spa now have a state license, he said.
The business pleaded guilty to one city code violation alleging a log of employees' names and addresses did not exist. Wendorf said a record-keeping system has since been implemented.
"This is a legitimate spa, and no worker has ever been charged with prostitution," Wendorf said in a Dec. 13 email to the city. "Hong Shen has tried very hard to adhere to all of St. Charles' rules and regulations."
In addition to the $1,000 fine, the business will be required to reimburse the city for court fees.