MT. JULIET, Tenn. -
Mt. Juliet police shutdown an area massage parlor after receiving an anonymous tip employees were performing illegal sex acts in exchange for money.
During an undercover sting operation last Friday, an informant paid for a massage at Better Bliss Massage located at 2596 North Mount Juliet Road and was offered sex for money.
"During that massage, she offered sex for more cash and sex acts," Mt. Juliet Police Sgt. Tyler Chandler told Nashville's News 2. "At that point in time, the detectives walked into the business and actually saw another employee performing a sex act on a customer."
Both parties stated to investigators that $60 was exchanged for the sex act. They were cited and arrested.
The owner of Better Bliss, 41-year-old Jie Allen, will be indicted later this month for prostitution and promoting prostitution. He could face felony charges.
A search of the business also resulted in seizures of $2,400 in cash, a laptop computer and 2006 Pontiac G6 car.
Authorities said the items were proceeds and equipment used by those engaging in prostitution.
Police believe the parlor advertised on Web sites such as Craigslist and BackPage.
"People of course would come here from different places," said Sgt. Chandler.
Though the massage parlor's business license was taken away, and the owners have moved out, customers still showed up at the building on Wednesday.
Nashville's News 2's cameras were rolling as one man tried to enter the building.
The man said a friend gave him the massage parlor's business card and said he had no idea the business was doing anything illegal.
"Usually I wouldn't have ventured this far, but I heard about it and thought it was legit," he said.
Mt. Juliet police said Better Bliss is the city's first case of a business running a prostitution operation, and they hope it's the last.
"It's not tolerated and it's definitely not welcome in Mt. Juliet," Sgt. Chandler said.
Allen is scheduled to be indicted at the end of the month.
Police said they believe the business had only been operating for the last few months.
