Two certified massage therapists were arrested Thursday on suspicion of soliciting prostitution at businesses during an undercover operation in Palm Desert, a sheriff's deputy said in a statement.
Beginning at noon Sept. 26, officers with the Palm Desert police Business District Team conducted an undercover prostitution investigation at multiple massage parlors, Deputy Donald Isaacs said.
During the operation, undercover officers received solicitations for prostitution at Rose Spa, in the 74300 block of Alessandro Drive, and at Desert Massage, in the 73-700 block of Highway 111, Isaacs said.
Two female suspects, Xiao Ying Zhu, 45, of Hemet, and Xia Du, 54, of Palm Desert, were arrested, Isaacs said.
"Both subjects were booked into the Indio Jail," Isaacs said. "Both subjects were California Massage Therapy Council certified massage therapists."
Zhu and Du were cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct: prostitution and released Sept. 26 on $2,500 bail, according to inmate records. They have Indio court dates scheduled in December.
Anyone with more info was urged to call the Palm Desert police Business District Team at (760) 836-1600.
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