STONEHAM — State and local code inspectors, with support from Stoneham Police and FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, closed two Body Works businesses in Stoneham today as a result of coordinated inspections.
An ongoing investigation into those two establishments is now underway.
On Friday, Feb. 13, the Stoneham Police Department, in coordination with the Stoneham Board of Health, the Stoneham Building Department, the Massachusetts Occupational Licensing Division, and with assistance from FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, conducted coordinated inspections at multiple Body Works establishments within the Town of Stoneham.
Two out of three businesses that were inspected were ultimately found to be in violation of applicable regulations. Those businesses, Natural Healing of Asia, 62G Montvale Ave., and All Season Spa, 62L Montvale Ave., were both ordered to close. They will not be permitted to reopen until all identified deficiencies are corrected and full compliance with state and local requirements is achieved.
The objective of this operation was to ensure compliance with applicable state laws and regulations, safeguard public health and safety, protect residents, support legitimate businesses, and identify potential indicators of human trafficking.
This multi-agency initiative has been in development for several months. As part of that preparation, Stoneham Police Detectives conducted surveillance of the identified locations in the months leading up to the operation.
Historically, certain businesses have operated under the loosely regulated classification of “Body Works,” thereby circumventing Massachusetts massage therapy licensing and regulatory requirements. In some cases, these practices have been exploited for illicit or unsafe activity, creating public health and safety concerns and, at times, contributing to human trafficking networks.
In addition to regulatory enforcement, the Stoneham Police Department and the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force provided services and resources to all employees encountered during the inspections. These efforts included offering victim-assistance information, outreach contacts, and pathways for individuals seeking help or wishing to report concerns related to exploitation, coercion, or unsafe working conditions.
Stoneham Police Detectives will continue to monitor these locations to ensure ongoing compliance with state and local regulations.
“This collaborative effort underscores the Town of Stoneham’s ongoing commitment to protecting residents, supporting lawful business operations, and proactively combating human trafficking through enforcement, partnership, and victim-centered outreach,” said Chief James O’Connor.
###
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.