FXCO massage parlors searched for human trafficking violations

The Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force—which includes officers from local, state, and federal agencies—carried a coordinated inspection operation Dec. 14 targeting massage parlors.

They didn’t find any human trafficking violations, reported Lt. Chris Marsh, assistant commander of the Fairfax County Police Organized Crime and Narcotics Division. But they did place 17 charges, the vast majority of them concerning licensing violations, at seven massage parlors.

Those businesses included three in Mason District: Sunrise at 6051 Arlington Blvd., in Seven Corners; Crown Therapy, 4605 Pinecrest Office Park Drive, Lincolnia; and Liberty, 4810 Beauregard St., Alexandria. The others are in Herndon and the Tysons Corner area.

Twenty-three businesses were inspected. Additional charges are pending further investigation.

More than 40 Fairfax County officers and detectives took part, along with personnel from the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Virginia State Police; the FBI; Department of State; Prince William County Police Department; Town of Herndon Police and zoning department; Town of Vienna Police Department; the Fairfax County Fire Marshall; and the Fairfax County zoning, code compliance, regulation, and licensing offices.

Representatives from the Polaris Project, a nationwide network dedicated to combating human trafficking, were also present to assist officers with potential victim interviews.

“Human trafficking, or illegal slave labor, is an issue we take very seriously. We want to make sure there are not businesses or employers here in Fairfax County involved in this activity,” said Marsh. “We will continue to be vigilant on this heart-wrenching and tragic problem.”