11 people were arrested in a massage parlor bust in Collier County.

On July 31, 2024, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office conducted an operation targeting suspected illegal massage companies, resulting in the arrest of 11 people in 10 massage parlors in Naples, Florida.

Operation Details
The operation, dubbed “Operation INTERCEPT Illicit Massage Businesses,” involved multiple agencies, including the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
Southwest Florida Task Forces: INTERCEPT, Internet Crimes Against Children, and Florida Department of Health Inspectors.
The purpose was to discover and prosecute illegal activity at massage shops and those who run them.

Arrests & Charges
Eleven people were arrested, largely on allegations of failure to submit needed documentation. One person received an extra fee for practicing massage without a license. The arrested persons varied in age from 48 to 55 years.

Business Inspections and Consequences
The Department of Health conducted inspections on all ten targeted firms, and all failed. As a result:
Twenty regulatory cases were opened.
Four cease-and-desist orders were issued, with two pending.
Ten massage therapy licenses were suspended.These situations may result in additional sanctions, such as the suspension or revocation of business licenses, management licenses, or individual therapy licenses.

New Legislation
This operation marked the start of enforcement for House Bill 197, which became effective on July 1, 2024. The new law seeks to:
Crack down on illegitimate massage enterprises.
Combat human trafficking.
Expand the Department of Health’s jurisdiction to suspend licenses for sexual misbehavior.
Regulate the front window coverings of massage establishments.
Require keeping customer logs for one year.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office stated that this operation is part of continuous efforts to address criminal activity in massage parlors and combat suspected human trafficking in the area.