Former Rochester spa owner accused of using business for prostitution across WNY

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — A woman who ran a local wellness spa is facing federal charges, accused of using the spa to operate a prostitution business across Western New York.

A complaint filed Monday in Buffalo federal court accuses Linian Song, who ran S Wellness Spa in Rochester and New Elegant Shiatsu in Lockport, of using the spas for commercial sex acts and promoting the services online.

Song allegedly transported employees between the two locations to perform those services, according to the complaint. While she was no longer listed as the owner of the Rochester spa, she still owned the Lockport spa and continued coordinating operations between the two businesses.

According to the complaint, investigators stopped some of Song’s customers, who reported paying cash for massages and receiving sexual services from spa employees.

Investigators also accuse Song of using Backpage-type websites to advertise the services.

According to WKBW in Buffalo, Song was arrested during an FBI raid at the Lockport spa and is facing charges of knowingly using a facility in interstate commerce with intent to manage a prostitution business.

A neighbor in the South Wedge told 13WHAM they suspected more was happening behind the walls of the spa, while others said they were shocked to see federal authorities at the business.

“The reputation of the South Wedge 40 years ago was that it had a drug problem, things like that,” said Jim Hollander of Rochester. “But this is so vibrant right now.”

Hollander said the neighborhood has been on a collective upswing for a while.

“There is crime anywhere in the city if you go looking for it,” he said. “The city is still strong. Sure, we have neighborhoods that struggle, but we have a lot of people that are working to improve things.”