By Jonann Brady
On Feb. 12, the First Precinct and the Nassau County Vice Squad arrested Young Su Lee, 22, of 547 Sunrise Hwy., and Ho Min Kyong, 33, of Washington, DC, at the salon after they allegedly solicited two undercover police officers for sex. The women were charged with prostitution, a misdemeanor, and unauthorized practice for operating without a massage license, a felony, say police.
A week before the arrests, the police became aware that the "massage parlor" might be offering more than backrubs after receiving a call from Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino, said Deputy Inspector Rich McCarrick of the First Precinct.
Santino said that his office received a couple of phone calls from neighbors complaining of "suspicious activities" at the salon, including a steady stream of people and cars coming in and out. Santino then alerted First Precinct Inspector Richard Kennedy during the first week of February.
Kennedy coordinated the sting operation with the county's Vice Squad, which sent in two undercover officers who were immediately solicited for a masssage, said McCarrick.
"The two officers paid for a massage, which they got. Afterwards, the women solicited them for sex," said McCarrick. He did not say how much the salon charged for a massage. McCarrick added that a bedroom had been set up at the back of the salon, and it appeared the women lived there.
In addition to the arrests, the Town Building Department issued a notice of predicate arrest to the property owner, United Properties Corporation, located at 2200 Grand Ave. If a second violation occurs, the Town can start a court action to remove the tenant for up to three years.
The Building Department also issued a summons to the owners for construction without a permit. The property had been subdivided into at least three occupancies, said Santino. Calls to United Properties Corporation went unreturned.
The salon seemingly popped up out of nowhere, and may have disappeared just as quickly. Fin Chasin of Elmhurst, Queens, who rented the property, received a business certification from Nassau County on Dec. 21, and the salon apparently opened sometime in January, said McCarrick. Chasin could not be reached for comment.
The First Precinct has sent plainclothes officers back to the salon since the arrests, but the business has remained shuttered. Last week, a hand-lettered sign stuck to the front door with electrical tape read, "Sorry We Close." Baldwin may have seen the last of the Men's Salon, said McCarrick.
"What tends to happen once an arrest is made is...they just walk away," he said.
That is a relief to several people who live and work near the salon. One man who declined to give his name said he assumed there was something shady happening inside the salon. Besides the suggestive sign in the window, he said he saw "men coming in and out and cars pulling up. Nice cars -- Rolls Royces."
"I'm happy it shut down," he said.
Both the First Precinct and the Town of Hempstead said they will monitor the salon for further activity.
"[We're] going to be vigilant in ensuring that the integrity of our residential neighborhoods will not be blemished by this type of pariah," said Santino.
