Houston and Beaumont massage parlors close after suspected trafficking, with owner banned from business for life

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The owner of a Houston massage business that was shut down for alleged human trafficking has been banned for life from the Texas massage industry and agreed to close.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has revoked the license of Hsin Wei Chen and the eight Houston and Beaumont businesses he is affiliated with.

The closures came after a settlement agreement reached Friday with TDLR.

Monday afternoon, some businesses were not closed. ABC13 found at least two still open, and a male customer was exiting one on Bellaire Boulevard.

Tela Mange, TDLR communications manager, said it all stemmed from an unannounced visit last month to the Foot Reflexology Star in Spring Cypress, which Chen owns, where an inspector found evidence of human trafficking.

“She saw a number of things that we know were indicators of possible human trafficking, including people living in the facility, luggage and large quantities of food,” she said about the establishment where the sign still says “FU Massage”. “

Bill 3579, which took effect in September 2023, gave the TDLR the authority to immediately take action against a business suspected of human trafficking and shut it down for 6 months.

However, instead of waiting for the six-month temporary closure period, Mange said Chen decided to exit the massage business and close all of his establishments.

When contacted by text message, Chen told ABC13, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

The agreement revokes Chen’s license and the licenses of the following establishments:

• Foot Reflexology Star, 10801 Spring Cypress Rd., Ste. 12, Houston
• Sunny Foot Massage, 10950 FM 1960 W., Ste. B, Houston
• L&P Massage LLC, 2808 Hwy 6 S., Ste. AI, Houston
• A Massage d/b/a A Reflexology Massage LLC, 2570 I-10 E, Beaumont
• Heavenly Massage LLC d/b/a Heavenly Massage, 12989 Bellaire Blvd, Ste. 7A, Houston
• Everstanding Bliss d/b/a Heavenly Massage, 12989 Bellaire Blvd, Ste. 7A, Houston
• Ivy Massage, 1780 N. Major Dr., Beaumont
• Ly Massage, 17802 W. Little York Rd., Ste. D, Houston

If Chen is found to be working in the massage therapy industry in Texas again, he could face additional sanctions, TDLR said.

Anyone suspecting human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). If the situation is urgent or you think someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities.

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