Massage parlor stung by prostitution arrest

The owner of Sakura Therapy and Shiatsu in Larkfield Shopping
Center was arrested last Wednesday on a prostitution charge.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department had suspected for some
time that the massage parlor, only a few doors down from the
Sheriff’s Larkfield Substation, was involved in prostitution
activity. Sergeant Bret Sackett said that at first it was just “the
inklings of a law enforcement officer.” Then, when three complaints
came in about the activities at the business, Sheriff’s deputies
began to plan an undercover operation.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14 members of the Sheriff’s Community
Oriented Policing Unit (COPPS) conducted an undercover operation to
determine if allegations made in the complaints were true.
“An undercover deputy sheriff, posing as a customer, was sent
into the massage parlor,” said Sackett. “The undercover deputy was
outfitted with a transmission wire, so surveillance deputies could
monitor the situation.”
The deputy made arrangements and paid for a 30-minute massage.
As the masseuse was giving the massage, she agreed to have sex with
the deputy for an additional sum of money. As soon as the agreement
was made, surveillance deputies entered the building and made the
arrest.
Three other employees who were present are under suspicion, but
were not arrested. Sackett said they were not cooperative with the
investigation.
Charged with prostitution is Jitlada Suangka, 41. The charge is
a misdemeanor, which can lead to as much as one year in the county
jail and/or a monetary fine.
“We are now in communication with the property management agency
about illegal activity of one of their tenants,” said Sackett.
He noted that Suangka was back at work on Friday.
“We dropped in, kind of smiled, and made our presence known,”
said Sackett.