Two people were recently charged under Conyers' new regulations on spa businesses, the first such charges after the city began cracking down massage parlors.
The new ordinances were passed in June and took effect Oct. 1. Conyers police have been conducting inspections of massage establishments under the new ordinances since then.
One such business, Spa World located at 1107 West Avenue, Suite B, was not found to be in compliance with the Massage Establishment and Massage Therapist License Ordinance, or Spa Ordinance.
Hyeon Ju Kim, 58, of 4705 Cook Road in Stockbridge was cited and charged with operating without a massage therapist license, failure to maintain records, failure to report new employee information, having an ordinary bed on premises, having a locked door inside the establishment, and owner or manager not present during operations.
Seri Wilkens, 57, of 4705 Cook Road in Stockbridge was cited and charged with operating without a massage therapist license and massaging while wearing inappropriate attire.
When officers arrived to inspect the business on Tuesday, Oct. 2, they found the door leading from the front area to the back area locked, a violation of the ordinance.
Officers also found a customer present who was not properly logged in as required by ordinance. The customer, who was not identified, was reportedly in a state of undress and ran from the building when inspectors arrived, leaving behind clothing and underwear.
There was also an employee who was not on the company's books, Wilkins, performing massage actions without a license, another ordinance violation. Wilkens was also charged with not wearing appropriate massage therapy attire while in the room with the customer.
Police also served a search warrant on the business and seized the business computer, surveillance camera DVR and customer logs for further investigation into the activities of the business.
“We want to make sure that all massage businesses are operating in a legal manner and performing legitimate services,” said Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson. “This business is clearly operating outside of our ordinance and regulations. We intend to make sure the business gets into compliance or we will take further legal action against them.”
There are reportedly three massage therapists and two massage parlors within the city of Conyers.
Wilson said Spa World had been given a copy of the new ordinances earlier. "They were delivered a copy of the ordinances about two and a half weeks prior to the ordinance going into effect. (Code enforcement officer) Sgt. Ivey discussed with them and said you’re going to have to have this corrected by October the first."
The charges brought against Hyeon Ju Kim and Seri Wilkens are the first cases made under the new Massage Establishment and Massage Therapist License Ordinance.
