Lexington business has license revoked over prostitution allegation
Two businesses on a busy commercial corridor were handed what the business owner’s attorney called the “death penalty” by Lexington Town Council on Monday after being accused of acting as a front for prostitution.
The town council voted unanimously to permanently revoke the business licenses for Thai Foot Massage and Queen Nail Spa after a trial-like proceeding at Monday’s council meeting, during which an attorney laid out evidence against the twin businesses obtained during a law enforcement raid last month. Both businesses had been located at 5483 Sunset Boulevard.
An undercover Lexington County sheriff’s deputy testified that he made an appointment at the massage parlor after receiving a public complaint about potential criminal activity there. The disrobed officer said the woman giving the massage indicated she wished to exchange “sexual favors,” law enforcement officers testified before the council at a public hearing.
“It was very clear by physical touch and the words used what she was offering,” Detective Robert Wood told council members. He said the massage therapist initiated contact “that is not a normal part of a massage” while repeatedly asking him, “this one?”
At that point, Wood said he used a “code phase” that alerted waiting officers to enter the business through a hidden audio-video device Wood had brought in with him. Two women present at the business were arrested.
Charges from the incident are still pending, attorney Chip Burn told the council, acting as the de facto prosecutor in the case. Representing the business owner, James Snell argued the allegations had not yet been proven in court. Snell also argued that besides the price for the massage displayed in the business lobby, no exchange of money was ever discussed, and no money changed hands prior to the massage.
In addition to the criminal allegations, Burn said that the investigation found that Thai Foot Massage was operating online as Tao Spa, taking reservations as a separate business whose business license for an East Main Street location had been revoked a year earlier over a similar complaint. A criminal charge in that case had gotten a “provisional discharge,” Burn said, and the same owner had been allowed to operate the two additional businesses by the town.
Snell argued revoking his client’s business license would not be appropriate before she had been given the opportunity to defend herself in court.
“Before you bring the death penalty to a business, she should have the chance to resolve the allegation in court,” Snell said.
After both sides laid out their case, the town council deliberated in a closed-door executive session for seven minutes before returning to the council chamber at town hall and voting to revoke both businesses’ licenses permanently, although Burn said the owner would have the chance to reapply if absolved of the criminal charges.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM.
.jpg)