Two acupuncture health establishments in Greenbelt were raided June 8 and are being investigated for prostitution.

Greenbelt police allege that the Rising Sun Massage parlor at 7743 Belle Pointe Drive and another establishment at 7335 Hanover Pkwy., which phone records identify as Acupressure Health Center Inc., illegally provided sex for money under the guise of massages.

No employees were arrested during either raid and charges are still pending, said Kelly Lawson, a Greenbelt Police Department spokeswoman.

Lawson said charges will determine whether the businesses will be shut down. Phone calls Friday afternoon to the businesses were not answered.

“They appear to be two separate operations,” Lawson said. “It’s still under investigation exactly who owned the facility and where they’re from.”

Lawson said police don’t know for how long the suspected brothels have been operating.

In May, members of the Metropolitan Area Drug Task Force began an investigation on the Hanover Parkway establishment. On May 27, Greenbelt police helped them carry out a search warrant, during which they found payment records, credit card information and $2,415 in cash.

On June 8 the task force and Greenbelt police raided Rising Sun Massage parlor and found $7,702 in cash, condoms, bank statements, credit card receipts and surveillance equipment used to monitor access to the establishment.

Police spoke to a total of six employees at both facilities who verified sex was exchanged for money.

Greenbelt Councilwoman Leta Mach said her office had not received any complaints from residents about the establishments.

“I did know that police were conducting an investigation but that was the extent of my knowledge,” Mach said.

Lawson said additional information about the owners and occupants has not been released because the investigation is ongoing.

cokparanta@gazette.net