ROSWELL, Ga. — In a unanimous vote on Monday, the Roswell City Council enacted a 90-day pause on issuing new licenses for massage parlors and spas.
This move is part of the city's ongoing efforts to combat crime, particularly following the uncovering of human trafficking and prostitution in several establishments in September.
The moratorium aims to provide a three-month window for city leaders to update and strengthen existing ordinances related to massage parlors. The goal is to enhance regulations and better address and prevent illegal activities within these establishments.
In September, several Roswell Police Department. said several spas were searched, and three people were arrested in connection to a human trafficking network within several metro Atlanta massage parlors, leading to the following spas being hit with search warrants:
- Alpha Massage, 11235 Alpharetta Hwy, Ste. 133, Roswell, GA
- Ease Massage, 1085 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Ste. 140, Roswell, GA
- Enjoy Massage, 1580 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Ste. 21A, Roswell, GA
- Iris Massage, 880 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Ste. B-105, Roswell, GA
- Barefoot Massage, 5920 Roswell Rd, Ste. A-113, Sandy Springs, GA
- Rose Massage, 2409 Piedmont Rd. NE, Ste. B, Atlanta, GA
"This operation, one of the largest of its kind in the region, marks a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to combat human trafficking at the organizational level," Roswell Chief of Police James Conroy said during the press conference in September.
Three people, aged 56, 41 and 36, have been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and labor trafficking by the police department.