Police have raided at least three Nashville businesses amid an investigation into prostitution and human trafficking.
The first raid was reported Thursday morning at Shine Nails, located on Donelson Pike. Officials with Metro Nashville Police said Blue Sapphire on Donelson Pike and Healing Arts Massage on Old Hickory Boulevard were also raided.
The were raided as part an investigation into promoting and patronizing prostitution, money laundering, and human trafficking.
Captain Mike Alexander said tips from the community as well as employees of nearby businesses sparked the investigation in April.
Officials said the businesses were all connected and owned by four people: 57-year-old Loi Lam 46-year-old Jie Allen and 27-year-old Ying Jiang and 33-year-old Ying Zhang.
Alexander said Lam, an owner, was not only aware of the crimes, but was responsible for housing and transporting the women from a home to the various businesses on a day-to-day basis
"It's very concerning - the daily lifestyle and conditions these employees may have been living in," said Alexander "It's a very sad scenario to be quite honest ... a significant number of these female employees were either living at a residence of the owner or at the massage parlors themselves."
A home in Jie Allen's name at 1124 Seven Points Pass was also searched.
While watching Shine Nails on July 3rd, detectives saw ten men enter the salon between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Each of them stayed for about an hour.
"They would come in and ask for a massage, but when they would go back into a room and the deal is made," said Tammy Meade.
Officials expect to amend the initial charges as the investigation continues to include things like trafficking for commercial sex acts.
Police seized several items from the businesses, multiple vehicles and a lien on the Seven Points Pass.
