NORWALK, Conn. -- Three women were arrested in a prostitution sting at the Nirvana Spa on Main Street in Norwalk, according to police.
Joo Yoon Kyung, 56, of Flushing, N.Y., was charged with third-degree promoting prostitution. Hye Kyong Newman, 60, of Commerce, Colo., was charged with second-degree promoting prostitution and permitting prostitution. Soon Shin Chong, 66, of Flushing, was charged with prostitution, third-degree promoting prostitution and practicing massage therapy without a license. Each was held on $2,500 bond and will appear in court June 29.
The arrests stemmed from a search-and-seizure warrant executed at the spa by the Special Services Division on Friday, Norwalk police said. The warrant was issued as a result of an investigation into complaints of prostitution at the establishment, according to police.
An undercover officer went into the spa Friday and was offered a sexual act in exchange for money, police said. The warrant was then executed and the three women were taken into custody, according to police reports.
During the search, police also seized $10, 635 and a 2010 Subaru Outback station wagon. Police said that Joo Yoon Kyung has prior arrests for prostitution-related offenses in New York, and Hye Kyong Newman has prior arrests for prostitution-related offenses in several states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia and New York.
This is not the first time Nirvana Spa has been the target of prostitution investigations. The most recent occurred in January 2014, when two women were arrested on prostitution-related charges at the establishment, police said.
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