Police shut down massage parlor

Women peddled sex at the Four Seasons Spa, police say after sending an informant to check out the place.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published July 29, 2005

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LARGO - Using a confidential informant wired with a microphone, city police have shut down a 126th Avenue massage parlor where they say women peddled sex.

The informant visited the Four Seasons Spa at 6585 126th Ave. on Tuesday evening and after a short conversation, Kyung Choi, 34, offered him sex for about $100, said Largo police Lt. Jeff Undestad.

Officers listened remotely, then entered the parlor and arrested Choi on charges of solicitation for prostitution, massaging without a license and resisting arrest without violence, Undestad said. She was released from the Pinellas County Jail on Wednesday after posting $650 bail.

City police also arrested Ji Kim, 38, on a charge of deriving support from proceeds of prostitution. Undestad said Kim had acted as an office manager at the spa. She was released after posting $5,000 bail.

Detectives first began to investigate Four Seasons in April after receiving tips, Undestad said. A patrol officer had also entered the business on an unrelated call and found it to be unusual for a massage parlor, the lieutenant said.

The patrol officer thought Four Seasons was decorated more like an apartment than a massage parlor, with private, furnished rooms and individual showers, Undestad said.

Police initially had a difficult time trying to infiltrate the spa. "They were very cautious with their behavior and watched how people would come and go," Undestad said.

Then detectives decided to use an informant, rather than an undercover officer.