The owner of a Garland massage establishment, which was closed in early September by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for suspected human trafficking, has agreed to permanently close the business and leave the massage industry in Texas.
TDLR issued a six-month emergency closure order, effective September 3, 2024, for LSP Relax Spa LLC, doing business as Sen Spa, located at 1238 Belt Line Road, Suite 350, in Garland. The order was based on suspicions of human trafficking and included the owner of the establishment, Nhon Tinh To.
Without admitting or denying TDLR's allegations, To signed a settlement agreement on September 6, 2024, consenting to the permanent revocation of the massage establishment's license and agreeing to a lifelong ban on owning or managing any massage businesses in Texas.
An initial inspection in April revealed employees wearing sexually provocative clothing and a large number of condoms. Two of the three employees providing massages were not licensed as massage therapists in Texas, and one was found hiding from the inspector. During a follow-up inspection in August, TDLR staff found another unlicensed massage therapist and a small grocery bag filled with condoms.
The establishment had also appeared on several illicit websites advertising sexual services.
HB 3579, passed in the 88th Legislature Regular Session, went into effect Sept. 1, 2023. Under the law, TDLR’s executive director can issue an emergency order halting the operation of any massage establishment if law enforcement or TDLR believes human trafficking is occurring at the establishment.
This order is the sixth emergency order issued by TDLR since the law went into effect.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring can contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities.
You can also file a complaint on a TDLR-regulated business that you suspect may be participating in human trafficking.
