A Billings spa has been shut down and criminal charges could be coming after its business license was denied on suspicion of operating as an illicit massage business.
Sky Spa is the seventh massage business in Billings to be denied a license.
It all comes after the Billings City Council enacted an ordinance last year to in hopes of cracking down on human trafficking and forced prostitution.
The city denied the license after finding nine violations. The owners did not appeal, cannot reapply for another year and are now no longer in business in Billings.
“The illicit massage industry, they typically have blacked out windows, their front doors are often locked,” said Penny Ronning, co-founder of the Yellowstone Area Human Trafficking Task Force. “Typically, they’re open all hours of the day and night.”
She says some workers at these spas may have massage licenses.
“They’re still being used, exploited in in a sexual manner,” Ronning said….
