North Texas massage parlor owners banned from industry after violations
At least two North Texas massage parlor owners, including one in Fort Worth, have been banned for life from working in that industry in Texas due to licensing violations, officials said.
In addition to the lifetime ban, the owner of a massage parlor in Burleson was required to pay a fine, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said in a news release Tuesday. A Burleson massage establishment had its license revoked, and an unlicensed massage therapist in Arlington received a cease and desist order.
Tao Happy Feet — also known as Happy Feet Massage — in Fort Worth and SY Foot in Garland were closed by the TDLR in March because of suspected human trafficking.
The two establishments have had their licenses revoked, according to the TDLR violations database. Owner Chiping Zhang faces a lifetime ban in Texas from working in the massage industry as a therapist or owner.
Top A-Massage in Burleson was closed in September, also on suspicion of human trafficking. Investigators found that the business was featured on illicit websites offering sexual services at the parlor’s location.
The owner, Cai Wei Evans, has been fined $10,500 and the establishment’s license permanently revoked, according to the TDLR database. Evans is indefinitely prohibited from owning any type of massage establishment in the state.
Best Massage in Burleson had its license revoked, according to the database. It was also closed for investigation in September after authorities found possible evidence of human trafficking on the premises.
Texas Fitt, an Arlington wellness club, was fined $1,500 and ordered to stop offering massage therapy. The establishment wasn’t licensed to provide that service, according to the violations database.
TDLR has revoked 110 licenses in a variety of professions, including towing, barbering and cosmetology, since the beginning of the year, according to the department’s news release. More than $113,000 in fines have been issued.
“TDLR cares about consumer health and safety, and the department maintains an active inspection and enforcement program to ensure that licensees provide safe and reliable services,” the department said in the news release.
