Last week, the Sandy Springs Police Narcotics and Vice Unit executed search warrants at two alleged illegal massage spas. The city is working to stop the spread of illicit activity and taking similar steps to Roswell, where police in recent years have targeted illegal massage spas and operations engaged in prostitution and sex-trafficking.
According to a Sandy Springs police statement, four massage businesses were shut down. Three were located on Roswell Road, and a fourth nearby on Cliftwood Drive. Two women were arrested and charged under city ordinances, house of ill fame and solicitation for an illicit sexual act.
Officer Jarrell Greene told Channel 2 Action News reporter Mark Winnie that undercover officers were offered “sexual favors …if they were to pay a certain price.”
Sandy Springs Police Chief Ken DeSimone said sex trafficking and other illicit activities would not be tolerated in the city.
Just down the road in Roswell, police have in recent years executed search warrants at numerous illegal spas. Two years ago, officers shut down nine unlicensed establishments in a single day. In 2023, Roswell police, assisted by Sandy Springs and Alpharetta law enforcement, rescued 20 women believed to be victims in a human trafficking network.
Roswell enforces an ordinance requiring massage spa practitioners who provide services to customers to hold valid state licenses. Other employees must obtain a permit from the police department that outlines their role at the business location.
