Columbia police say a tip from an offended male led to the raid.
The owner of a north Columbia massage parlor, a customer and an employee were arrested on suspicion of prostitution-related charges Monday night, Columbia police said Wednesday.
Capt. Brad Nelson said police received a call from a male patron who reported that while receiving a massage at Fuji Sauna, 711-A Vandiver Drive, he was offered numerous sexual services for an additional fee.
“This person was offered these sexual acts and turned them down, then he called the police after leaving the business,” Nelson said. “He was alarmed by the propositions.”
Nelson said police arrived at the business at 10 p.m. and found four women and a man inside.
Fuji Sauna’s owner Yang H. Yoon, 58, who resides at 1904 Waverly Court, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree promoting prostitution and released from the Boone County Jail after posting a bond of $4,500.
Steven Wallace, 58, of Mexico, Mo., and Jin. L. Paio, 43, also of 1904 Waverly Court, were arrested on suspicion of patronizing prostitution, and were each issued a summons and released.
The other three women were questioned then released, Nelson said. Nelson said statements made by Wallace led to the arrests.
“Wallace gave incriminating statements in regards to payment for sexual acts and also admitted that he had been at the business on previous occasions and had paid for sexual acts,” Nelson said. “Officers also made other observations that supported statements made by Wallace regarding acts of prostitution.”
Nelson said prostitution-related businesses are common in Columbia and the police have received several complaints in the past few months from residents who have suspected prostitution at massage parlors, but investigation into such businesses is only done on a complaint basis.
“We certainly have received complaints that several of these massage parlors engage in prostitution,” Nelson said. “We investigate these complaints as they come in.”
Calls to the business were not answered Wednesday.
If convicted of promoting prostitution, a felony, Yang could receive up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000. The penalty for patronizing prostitution, a misdemeanor, is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Nelson said the arrests were similar to those made last month at Lynn’s Massage that were prompted by citizen complaints.
Anyone with any information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 875-8477.