13 Arrested In Pawtucket Massage Parlor Raids: Report

PAWTUCKET, RI — Thirteen women were arrested Thursday in a raid on two massage parlors in Pawtucket, according to The Providence Journal. The women work at Harmony Spa and Far East Acupressure. All pleaded not guilty in court on Friday.

Three of the women face felony charges of pandering and allowing prostitution, while four others face prostitution charges, according to The Journal. All 13 were charged with working as unlicensed massage therapists, a misdemeanor offense.

All of the women told the judge that they live out of state in California, New York City, Connecticut or Texas, The Journal reported. The women's lawyer told The Journal it was not a trafficking situation and all of the women work at the massage parlors voluntarily.