New Hampshire communities grapple with illicit activity at massage parlors - WMUR

[Alanna Flood]

You might have noticed them – massage parlors tucked away in plazas that seem a little off. Massage parlors that people in the community say offer sex acts for money.While illicit massage businesses are likely all over New Hampshire, one community in particular is taking its fight against them all the way the State House."Everybody knows that sex is being sold and bought in our state, and we can't touch it with our existing laws," said state Rep. Erica Layon, R-Derry.Covered windows, blinking lights, cameras pointed at the front door – police in New Hampshire say these are some of the markers for businesses that are labeled massage parlors but might be fronts for prostitution and human trafficking. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<"We had one, then we had three, then we had five," said Derry police Capt. Vern Thomas. "And we started getting notifications from people, tips, anonymous tips that maybe these weren't just regular massage operations but maybe something different."News 9 Investigates has learned that a New York woman was recently arrested by Derry police and charged with prostitution for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with a client at a business offering massages.Derry, a town of just over 36 square miles, is grappling with the problem."It's definitely an organized group that's coming up from New York and New Jersey and bringing these businesses into New Hampshire," said incoming town administrator Michael Fowler.News 9 Investigates has also learned that the leader of a violent sex trafficking and prostitution ring based in New York and operating in New Hampshire was found guilty of federal charges in November. Federal court paperwork did not say where in New Hampshire it happened, but it detailed the inner workings of the sex trafficking organization where workers were beaten and their hands zip-tied, leaving them terrified and often seriously injured. Trafficking survivor Jasmine Grace Marino is not connected to the Derry case, but she said she knows the feeling all too well. "You're afraid. You need to make that quota, or he's going to beat you," Marino said. "It's a horrible way to live."According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there have been 156 human trafficking cases and 450 victims identified since 2015 in New Hampshire."The average age to get into the trade is between 12 and 14," Marino said.Raw interview: Sex-trafficking survivor, now an advocate, shares her storyerry police said they are aware of the illicit businesses because they advertise on adult websites.News 9 Investigates called the New York number on an ad. The woman who answered did not speak much English. She sent back a text asking the reporter to message her for a service.Officials said the illicit massage parlors are difficult to bust because there is no state law regulating them, which prevents police and inspectors from going inside without a warrant to ensure that everyone is licensed and put an end to any illegal activity going on."We need facts. We need evidence. We need proof there is something illicit going on with trafficking or prostitution," Thomas said. "That's pretty well guarded by the people committing the crime."Derry passed an ordinance with stricter requirements for massage businesses, enabling the town to send cease-and-desist orders to six of the businesses for multiple violations."If there's any inference of advertising that is discovered, that would also be in violation of the local ordinance," Fowler said.Doreen Rossi is a licensed massage therapist and member of the Massage Therapist Advisory Board for the state Office of Professional Licensure. "I've spent my life educating and explaining the therapeutic benefits, so when you see businesses like this under the guise of massage, it's frustrating," she said.Legislation just passed by the New Hampshire House and Senate would increase the penalty for prostitution from a misdemeanor to a felony."I think if I had a daughter or a child that was taken or promised this better life, a job overseas, and they are stuck in this heinous situation, I would hope somebody would try and help them," Rossi said.

DERRY, N.H. —

You might have noticed them – massage parlors tucked away in plazas that seem a little off. Massage parlors that people in the community say offer sex acts for money.

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While illicit massage businesses are likely all over New Hampshire, one community in particular is taking its fight against them all the way the State House.

"Everybody knows that sex is being sold and bought in our state, and we can't touch it with our existing laws," said state Rep. Erica Layon, R-Derry.

Covered windows, blinking lights, cameras pointed at the front door – police in New Hampshire say these are some of the markers for businesses that are labeled massage parlors but might be fronts for prostitution and human trafficking.

>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

"We had one, then we had three, then we had five," said Derry police Capt. Vern Thomas. "And we started getting notifications from people, tips, anonymous tips that maybe these weren't just regular massage operations but maybe something different."

News 9 Investigates has learned that a New York woman was recently arrested by Derry police and charged with prostitution for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with a client at a business offering massages.

Derry, a town of just over 36 square miles, is grappling with the problem.

"It's definitely an organized group that's coming up from New York and New Jersey and bringing these businesses into New Hampshire," said incoming town administrator Michael Fowler.

News 9 Investigates has also learned that the leader of a violent sex trafficking and prostitution ring based in New York and operating in New Hampshire was found guilty of federal charges in November.

Federal court paperwork did not say where in New Hampshire it happened, but it detailed the inner workings of the sex trafficking organization where workers were beaten and their hands zip-tied, leaving them terrified and often seriously injured.

Trafficking survivor Jasmine Grace Marino is not connected to the Derry case, but she said she knows the feeling all too well.

"You're afraid. You need to make that quota, or he's going to beat you," Marino said. "It's a horrible way to live."

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there have been 156 human trafficking cases and 450 victims identified since 2015 in New Hampshire.

"The average age to get into the trade is between 12 and 14," Marino said.

Raw interview: Sex-trafficking survivor, now an advocate, shares her story:



Derry police said they are aware of the illicit businesses because they advertise on adult websites.

News 9 Investigates called the New York number on an ad. The woman who answered did not speak much English. She sent back a text asking the reporter to message her for a service.

Officials said the illicit massage parlors are difficult to bust because there is no state law regulating them, which prevents police and inspectors from going inside without a warrant to ensure that everyone is licensed and put an end to any illegal activity going on.

"We need facts. We need evidence. We need proof there is something illicit going on with trafficking or prostitution," Thomas said. "That's pretty well guarded by the people committing the crime."

Derry passed an ordinance with stricter requirements for massage businesses, enabling the town to send cease-and-desist orders to six of the businesses for multiple violations.

"If there's any inference of advertising that is discovered, that would also be in violation of the local ordinance," Fowler said.

Doreen Rossi is a licensed massage therapist and member of the Massage Therapist Advisory Board for the state Office of Professional Licensure.

"I've spent my life educating and explaining the therapeutic benefits, so when you see businesses like this under the guise of massage, it's frustrating," she said.

Legislation just passed by the New Hampshire House and Senate would increase the penalty for prostitution from a misdemeanor to a felony.

"I think if I had a daughter or a child that was taken or promised this better life, a job overseas, and they are stuck in this heinous situation, I would hope somebody would try and help them," Rossi said.