By Jeff Lipton
Undercover detectives from the Nassau County Police Department's Narcotics/Vice Squad arrested the women on March 26 after receiving a tip from Inspector John Capece, commanding officer of the 1st Precinct, whose officers noticed suspicious activity at a Milburn Avenue location, according to Detective Lt. Andrew Fal of the Narcotics/Vice Squad.
The women, Hui F. Wang, 52, and Heping Gong, 49, both of Flushing, Queens, were charged with practicing illegal massage because they were not licensed to perform massage therapy, police said. For an additional fee, the women offered to perform a "happy ending" on the undercover detectives, which constituted "an offer of masturbation," Fal explained. The suspects were charged with an unauthorized practice and prostitution, and were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on March 27.
"Not long ago we were advised of this," Fal said of the alleged illegal operation. "Inspector Capece's officers were down there doing a pretty good job and reported this particular operation to us because they noticed some suspicious activity. We followed up and did an undercover investigation."
Fal said that over the past few years, more illegal massage parlors and houses of prostitution have surfaced in Nassau County. "In the last few years there have just been more of them around," he said. "They are everywhere, really. There aren't any set places. They are opportunists."
He said such operations usually occupy buildings with storefront - places where the rents are cheap enough - and when police close in, they move to a different location. "They set up and do business as long as they can and then they move along," Fal said. "It's an opportunistic thing, they come and go."
Some of the offenders are illegal immigrants, so officials from Immigration and Naturalization Services are called in, he said.
Practicing a massage without a license is considered by law a more serious offense than prostitution, which is a misdemeanor, Fal explained, adding that landlords are often kept in the dark about these types of operations. "Sometimes they turn a blind eye to it, but they should always check on their property," he said.
Residents of Milburn Avenue said they were stunned when told of the arrests. "Yeah, it's surprising, and to me it's scary," said Tina Loncaric, who has lived on the street for four years. "I have a 1-year-old baby, and anything close to you like that, it's not a pleasant thing." Loncaric added, "Baldwin is quiet and nice, but you could live next to something like that and never know it."
"It's shocking," said Marvin Edson, who also lives on Milburn Avenue. "I've never seen anything like it around here. This is a beautiful neighborhood, with all nice couples and families living here."
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com.
