Prosecutors have dropped prostitution charges against four women who operated two massage parlors in Parkersburg. According to records in Wood County Magistrate Court, the prostitution charges were dropped on April 18 as part of a plea agreement with the Wood County prosecuting attorney's office.
Police began investigating Hot Stone Massages on Murdoch Avenue and the Asian Massage Parlor on Emerson Avenue after getting an anonymous tip about alleged sexual activity at the businesses. Parkersburg Police have arrested four women on prostitution charges after detectives say they were operating a prostitution ring at two massage parlors in Parkersburg.
The investigation started when investigators received an anonymous tip that sexual activities were allegedly being done for money at Hot Stone Massages, at Murdoch Avenue in Parkersburg. Detectives contacted the U. Department of Homeland Security to help identify the occupants and employees of the massage parlors.
Investigators found the same person who owned Hot Stone Massages also owned other massage parlors, including the Asian Massage Parlor at Emerson Avenue, Suite 5A, where investigators discovered alleged prostitution was also taking place. According to the criminal complaint, at each location, the massage parlor employees completed an agreement for sexual favors.
The undercover operation was conducted a second time to gather more evidence, resulting in the same agreements being made for sexual favors.
