Penalties Associated With Illicit Massage Parlors In Bergen County

Often, there is a very thin line between a legal massage parlor and an illegal prostitution operation. The distinction between these two businesses may depend on very subtle factors, including how a judge interprets relevant New Jersey law. If you were accused of running or participating in an illegal massage parlor, you might want to get in touch with an experienced defense attorney in Bergen County right away.

Bergen County Defendants Accused of Running Illegal Massage Parlors

In August of 2024, authorities announced that four defendants in Bergen and Passaic Counties had been charged with various offenses related to the operation of illegal massage parlors. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these parlors actively offered prostitution to customers. All of the accused individuals are foreign nationals hailing from Korea and China.

These individuals are now facing numerous charges – including conspiracy to commit interstate travel or racketeering in aid of a racketeering enterprise. Prosecutors allege that the defendants were fully aware of the prostitution occurring in their businesses. They also allegedly directly profited from these endeavors. The potential penalty for this offense is a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Prosecutors also claim to have extensive evidence of these activities. Officials saw online advertisements on various forums, and this content allegedly provided considerable detail about both the nature and location of the sex work.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and many other agencies participated in this operation. According to one HSI representative:

“Homeland Security Investigations Newark and our law enforcement partners worked relentlessly during the investigative and prosecutorial phases of this case against multiple illicit businesses in New Jersey and New York.” 

What Is the Definition of Prostitution in New Jersey? 

In order to determine when you might be charged with prostitution for a massage parlor in New Jersey, it might be helpful to review the Garden State’s legal definition of prostitution. Fortunately, this definition is relatively straightforward:

If you offer or accept sexual activity in exchange for compensation, you could face prostitution charges in New Jersey. The State goes on to define “sexual activity” in very precise terms, and this may include:

• Sexual intercourse
• Touching of the genitals
• Touching of the buttocks
• Touching of the breasts

Note that theoretically speaking, a massage could be defined as an act of prostitution relatively easily under this definition – especially if there is physical contact with the buttocks. Many massage therapists touch their patients’ buttocks, and this is considered a normal part of massage therapy in many cases (assuming proper consent and communication).

Find an Experienced Defense Attorney in Bergen County 

Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law has been helping defendants throughout New Jersey for many years. If you have been accused of prostitution in Bergen County or any other offenses related to illegal massage parlors, we may be able to help. Book a consultation with our New City criminal defense lawyers today to learn more about your legal options – and get started with a defense strategy.

Sources: 

njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/charges/propst.pdf

northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2024/08/09/men-charged-operating-illicit-massage-parlors-bergen-county-nj/74744870007