Craigslist Web site leads local police to small operation
Wrapping up an extensive investigation, Morgan Hill Police officers on Thursday arrested two San Jose women on charges related to prostitution.
Nhung Huynh, 42, was arrested for alleged solicitation of prostitution and living in a house of prostitution. Hoa Le, 50, was arrested for allegedly living in a house of prostitution. Both were cited and released.
The women were arrested at 6:30pm, when Morgan Hill police officers served a search warrant at a tanning salon, Morgan Hill Tanning at 145 West Main Avenue. Morgan Hill police Cmdr. Joe Sampson said the officers had to force their way into the business,
The business is across the street from a day care center and just down the street from P. A. Walsh Elementary School. It is also close to Britton Middle School.
“Aside from the illegal acts being committed at the business, the proximity to children was especially concerning to us,” said Morga Hill Police Department special operations Sgt. David Swing.
A tip from neighbors of the salon jump-started the investigation, Sampson said.
The business advertised in a Spanish-language publication called “La Ganga” and the Metro weekly newspaper, as well as on the Craigslist Web site, which allows its users to post classified ads for jobs, housing, companionship and other activities. The advertisements offered massages as well as tanning.
Morgan Hill lead investigator Det. Kevin Beilman said he could not reveal the amount allegedly charged by the pair for sexual favors.
“That’s something that potentially could come up during trial,” he said.
The women had a pimp, Beilman said, and the investigation continues into his involvement.
“We know who he is,” he said.
Beilman said as the month-long investigation continued, detectives were working on other cases as well. As they talked to clients of the tanning salon, they gathered evidence to apply for a search warrant for the business, but the clients were not arrested.
There were no clients in the business when the search warrant was served Thursday evening.
Sampson said many of the clients that detectives talked to as they came out of the business live outside of Morgan Hill. They told detectives they came to Morgan Hill because they saw advertisements placed by the women.
The San Jose Police Department Vice unit assisted in the investigation as they had had contact with the women arrested in San Jose.
“The nature of these businesses is that very often when they are shut down in one area, they simply move to another,” Beilman said. “They go from town to town.”
Detectives are investigating leads that indicate there may be other prostitutes operating in Morgan Hill, he added.
Morgan Hill Tanning is closed pending revocation of the business license.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
