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Amityville Village Police raid illegal massage parlor Amityville Village Police raided an office at 116 Broadway Friday, Sept. 30, arresting two women for prostitution. Police said the business was listed as offering acupuncture and acupressure services but that, in fact, the women working there offering sex for a fee. Police conducted a month-long investigation and surveillance, observing a large amount of traffic in and out of the rear entrance to the office of Sunrise Natural Health Center. They interviewed several men who left the facility, and sent in two undercover officers, confirming what they had suspected: that the women there were offering "customers" sex for a fee. "The men we interviewed were cooperative and we took statements from them outlining what was actually taking place in the office there," said Amityville Det. Bruce Pescitelli who handled the case. Initially, police were unable to confirm the information they received and the rumors they heard about the business, but Pescitelli kept expanding his investigation, and conducting surveillances until he was able to get enough information to get a search warrant. The search warrant resulted in the confiscation of more than $1,600 in cash. In addition, police observed that the women were living and sleeping in the building, possibly taking different work shifts. "On the surface, this business does not appear to be hurting anyone, but it definitely brings in a lot of individuals we don't want coming into the Village here," said Amityville Police Lt. Donald Dobby. "We are fortunate that Det. Pescitelli is tenacious and that he did not give up on this case and allow it to fall through the cracks." Arrested and charged with prostitution were Aling Sun, l50, of 144-58 Sanford Ave., and Yueli Bai, 45, of 147 Northern Blvd., both of Flushing, Queens. A third woman in the office was not charged. They were released on $2,000 and $1,500 bail respectively and were bailed out by Gerard A. Price of Avenel, New Jersey. They are to appear back in Amityville Village Court at a later date. The building is owned by Dr. Jeffrey Walters, a dentist who was notified by police of the incident. He told a reporter: "I am shocked because I have been down there and never saw anything that would lead me to believe anything like this was going on," he said. "I was totally unaware, thinking it was a legitimate massage parlor." Walters had owned the building for 30 years and said that within two days of being notified of the incident, he told the tenant to clear out. "They have done that and the 'for rent' sign is up," he said.
These illegal massage parlors have been springing up throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties and other municipalities. When they come to the attention of police and are raided, the women are generally charged with a violation of the New York State Education law, which licenses acupuncturists and massage therapists. Pescitelli said the Village Police decided to apply the prostitution charge because that would keep the case in Village Court where it could be more closely monitored.
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