SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shut down three San Antonio massage parlors under suspicion of illegal activities, including human trafficking.
The businesses were located off of Northwest Loop 410, Huebner Road and Nacogdoches Road.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issued emergency suspension orders on Jan. 21 for the three establishments, which were owned and operated by Rudy and Ping Lopez.
The suspension, effective for at least six months, follows an investigation into illicit activity at the three locations.
According to the suspension orders, in November 2024, an undercover San Antonio police officer was offered sexual services for payment during a visit to the NW Loop 410 location. The order goes on to state that investigators found used and unused condoms, lubricants, and lingerie.
The evidence suggested that commercial sexual services were being provided.
Mia Tovar, who works near one of the businesses, described the situation as unsettling.
“It’s a really scary world,” Tovar said. “You don’t think about it too often unless it’s really close by, and then it’s like, really concerning.”
Romish Abdul Rashid, another nearby employee, mentioned that something always seemed off about the businesses.
“Unlike any other massage place, they always had five to 10 people going in there,” Rashid said. “It’s crazy that it can happen so close, basically 40 feet away from us.”
During the investigation, investigators found an unlicensed employee providing massages and evidence suggesting that the employee had been living at the location. That is allegedly the same employee who offered sexual services for payment to the undercover officer.
Throughout the investigation, it was revealed that the employee who offered sexual services had been arrested for prostitution in November of 2023 at the Hubener location, authorities said. However, at that time, the massage parlor was under a different name and ownership.
