Toms River Massage Spa Was Prostitution Operation: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River police are seeking the public's help in locating a Berkeley Township man wanted on charges of promoting prostitution at a Toms River business.

James M. O'Brien, 59, of Edgebrook Drive North in Berkeley Township, has been charged with promoting prostitution after a four-month investigation into activities at Redwoods Wellness Center, 515 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, Toms River Police Department spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Also charged in the case is Nina X. Meng, 56, also of Edgebrook Drive North, Berkeley Township, Stocco said. Meng, the owner and proprietor of Redwoods Wellness Center, was arrested and charged with the promotion of prostitution, he said.

O'Brien has refused to surrender himself to authorities, Stocco said.

The charges come after an investigation led by Toms River Detective Thomas Grosse in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group and the U.S. Enforcement Removal Operation Unit, Stocco said.

Redwoods was conducting business as a massage parlor, Stocco said, but was suspected of soliciting prostitution. Allegations of the prostitution were confirmed by way of the investigation as well as through the subsequent evidence procured as a result of the court-authorized search warrants, he said.

Details on how the activity was confirmed were not provided.

Redwoods actively advertised its massage business on a website that advertises escort services around the country, offering "amazing asian massage" and "four hands sweet massage," with hours from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and "walk-ins welcome," with charges of $60 per hour and $100 for a "four hands massage," according to the advertisement. The website's terms of service say it offers sexually oriented content but bars content that solicits "directly or in 'coded' fashion for ANY illegal service, including the exchange of sexual favors for money."

A Google search did not yield a website for Redwoods Wellness Center or for Redwoods Spa, the name in the minutes of the June 21, 2016, Township Council meeting when the council approved the license for Meng to operate the spa.

Stocco said anyone with information about Redwoods Wellness Center, its employees or who knows the whereabouts of O'Brien is urged to confidentially contact Grosse at 732-349-0150, ext. 1263 or by email at tgrosse@trpolice.org.

The investigation is ongoing, and there is a potential for additional criminal complaints to be signed, Stocco said.

This building at 515 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, is alleged to have been home to a prostitution operation. Nina Meng. James M. O'Brien. Photos provided by Toms River Police Department