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Last updated on Thursday, May 2, 2013
(CARMEL) - Six people have been arrested after an anonymous tip led to an undercover sting operation spanning Hamilton and Boone counties.
Police say they worked at two businesses that were allegedly a front for prostitution. Wednesday night, 24-Hour News 8 took a look inside the case hitting both Carmel and Zionsville.
Dove Spa sits in the middle of Carmel just blocks from the Carmel Police station.
Tara Thomas is a hair stylist next door.
"We've been suspicious for as long as they have been open," she says.
She says the massage parlor was open late into the night, sometimes past 2 a.m.
Shianne Dattilo also works at the hair salon next door.
"The man who owns the business would be sitting in a chair with the lights off," Dattilo says. "Just sitting in the window like he was waiting for people to come in and out. It was really weird."
Major Aaron Dietz says, "Compared to other ones this is one of the first times we were actually able to go all the way up to the top and tie in who we feel was orchestrating and was responsible for this business."
Police arrested five female employees along with the owner of the two massage parlors, 50-year-old Lu Wang of Fishers.
They busted Dove Spa on Rangeline and Beijing Spa on North Michigan in Zionsville. Thomas says of the bust, "I saw worker after worker coming out in handcuffs."
After searching both spas and three homes they seized two cars and $250,000. They say $210,000 in cash was found stashed in suitcases, safety deposit boxes and banks.
Thomas explains, "We have customers who have gone over there not knowing what was going on and they've had their pants taken off, their boxers taken off, taken to the showers and sponge bathed."
Police say 100s of customers, mostly men, came here all hours of the night. 24-Hour News 8 watched as more than a dozen tried the door even after the bust.
Those 24-Hour News 8 talked with say they had the wrong address. Police say a bachelor party last summer with guys arriving in cabs late one night was also a turn in the case.
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