Politics & Government

1 Deported in Prior Prostitution Bust

Criminal cases against two of three arrested in 2010 at a North Tennessee Street spa are pending.

Although one women apparently was deported, a 2010 case involving a Cartersville spa now the subject of two police raids has not yet been resolved.

This week, Cartersville Patch reported on the . Despite requests, investigators have released no further details on the undercover sting that led to two arrests.

Alexandra Joy Kim, 42, of Carrolton, Texas, was charged with prostitution and Son Cha Platt, 66, of Duluth, was accused of being a party to that crime.

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Lt. Mark Camp did say Kim and Platt were not involved in of three Korean women then residing in areas east and south of Atlanta.

The trio was accused of operating the "place of prostitution," then known as Lily Spa, in addition to prostitution, pimping and public indecency charges, reported.

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About a month following the earlier probe, authorities dismissed criminal charges—keeping a place of prostitution, prostitution and public indecency—against 31-year-old Eun Jung Cho because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had scheduled her deportation, according to records available to the public.

"The dismissal of charges, as in the case of Cho, is not unusual if the defendant is held by I.C.E. and scheduled for deportation, particularly for a misdemeanor, because they stay in [law enforcement] custody that whole time," Assistant District Attorney Shelly Faulk said.

Faulk declined to comment on pending cases against Hee Kyeong Yi, then 46, and Suk Hui Morris, 42 at the time, but said neither had been arraigned, which often entails a first court appearance for defendants. During the proceedings, they are formally notified of the criminal charges they face and can enter a not guilty plea.

Yi faces a pimping accusation in addition to keeping a place of prostitution, prostitution and public indecency charges. Morris is charged with a sole count of keeping a place of prostitution.

Citing policy, Faulk would not say why nearly two years following their arrests, the women have not been required to appear before a judge.

It's not clear if immigration issues are involved in Yi's and Morris' cases, but shortly after the raid on Lily Spa, local drug task force Lt. Leslie Cheek told The Daily Tribune News that I.C.E. assisted local authorities due to Cho's "immigration issue."

That type of issue may not come up in the most recent probe of the spa, although the origins and immigration histories of Asian Hot Body Rub's Kim and Platt are not clear.

"As far as we know both women are legal," Camp said. "Both have valid driver’s licenses and Social Security cards. Both of the fingerprints came back OK."

Cartersville Patch requested copies of the business licenses for both Lily Spa and Asian Hot Body Rub, but police, citing a continuing investigation, asked city officials not to release the documents.

While it's unclear if the five women arrested in the prostitution stings have any connections, the requires a valid ID, a citizenship affidavit, inspections related to building codes, and the approval of fire, police and building officials in the issuance of business licenses.

The city does not regulate day spas beyond its requirement for a state cosmetology or similar license depending on the services offered.


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