Group of massage therapists arrested in undercover sting called ‘Operation Skin So Soft' - The Mirror US

[Yelena Mandenberg]

A two-day undercover sting in Florida revealed that nearly two dozen 'massage therapists' were arrested from a number of 'massage parlors' for soliciting sex acts from police officers

Florida cops busted nearly two dozen women for alleged illegal acts in some massage parlors in Florida


Polk County, Florida authorities arrested 20 women from various massage parlors after a two-day undercover sting known as 'Operation Skin so Soft' revealed that a number of 'therapists' solicited sex acts from officers.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said 12 massage parlors were not complying with laws in Davenport, Dundee, Lakeland, and Winter Haven. He explained that his officer audited at least 22 massage parlors, walking in to get regular massages.

During a press conference on Thursday morning, the sheriff said one 37-year-old woman charged an undercover officer $60 for a massage, but "tried to have full sex" him once the massage was done.

Sheriff Grady Judd said one of the workers "wasn’t as big as a popcorn fart" as she tried to hold an officer down

"She stood in front of the door, so he couldn’t leave, and then she tried to hold him down," Judd explained. "She wasn’t as big as a popcorn fart, and she was trying to hold this man down."

According to Fox News, the oldest woman arrested was 64 and the youngest was 31. All of the women were nationals from China. Three of them were citizens and the rest were on work visas.

"I don’t think the federal government had in mind this kind of work when they gave them a work visa, but they’re here anyway," joked Judd.

At least 12 massage parlors were caught in illegal acts(Fox13)

Florida authorities will work with federal agents to revoke their work visas. "We want them back in their home country if they are not citizens of the United States. You come here. You even legally come here, and you violate the law, you should have lost our trust at the federal level, and you should be returned to your home country."

Judd clarified that not all of the 20 women arrested were engaged in alleged prostitution, but some 'touched private areas' and 'massaged areas that violated the rules of conduct' while another was apprehended after interfering with another woman's arrest.

Other charges include not keeping records correctly, as some of these places are not following a new Florida law that requires proper paperwork filed on massages, therapists, and customers.

The investigation has so far revealed that just one of the women was from Lakeland while the rest 'travel around,' hinting at a 'circuit' of businesses where they work.

Judd also cautioned johns using these massage parlors, clarifying that not all of the massage parlors were in violation. "If you’re going there, and they were very comfortable and engaged in this conduct without any prompting. Hey, your picture can be up on the next board too. But it’s a choice and if it’s up there, I don’t want to hear any whining and complaining because I stood here and gave you a warning today."