EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP (WPMT)-The owner of an East Lampeter Township massage parlor is facing charges of promoting prostitution after a female worker tried to perform sex acts on an undercover police officer in October, according to the criminal complaint.
Dennis Williams, 56, of Ephrata, owner of Orthopedic Medical Massage, was charged on Jan. 8 with promoting prostitution. He has since posted $25,000 bail.
Authorities were tipped off after receiving citizen complaints about suspicious activity at Orthopedic Medical Massage located at 1873 Lincoln Highway in East Lampeter Township. The complainant told police that only men would frequent the business, often parking behind the building.
During the investigation–police questioned two male clients who visited the massage parlor. Both clients told investigators that they would arrive at the massage parlor without appointments and would be serviced by Asian women who spoke very little or no English, according to court records. The clients told police that the women would perform sex acts during the massage, according to court papers.
On Oct. 10 an undercover detective arrived at the Orthopedic Medical Massage for a massage, court document state. The detective noticed Williams present at the front desk. According to the complaint, the detective was not asked his name or to provide any identification prior to his massage. While performing the massage, the masseuse, began to perform a sex act–which the detective refused and left the business.
Shortly thereafter, investigators executed search warrants at Orthopedic Medical Massage. Williams was not able to produce any documents for the women he employed and told police they were ‘independent contractors,’ according to court documents. Williams also said he did not keep written records of the services provided by the ‘Asian body workers,’ according to the criminal complaint. Some of the women Williams employed lived with him at his Ephrata home on Coolidge Drive, police said.
Williams operates the parlor with Ling Ma, of Wyomissing. So far, Ling hasn’t been charged.
A preliminary hearing for Williams is scheduled for Feb. 3.
