San Jose Massage Parlors: Former San Ramon Police Officer Pleads Guilty in Corruption Scandal

Former Danville police Officer Stephen Tanabe, 48, was also involved in the scandal and was charged in both state and federal court. Tanabe is accused of selling steroids and was allegedly involved in a “dirty DUI” scheme in which Butler’s employees targeted men in bars, got them drunk and sent them back on the road, where Tanabe arrested them, according to court documents.
The Discovery Bay resident was first arrested on similar state charges in front of the San Ramon Police Department last May.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office turned the case over to federal investigators over the summer.
Also charged in both state and federal court in the scandal are former CNET Cmdr. Norman Wielsch, 50 and former Antioch police officer and private investigator Christopher Butler, 49.
A grand jury indicted Wielsch and Butler last August on charges of stealing from a federally financed program, selling marijuana and methamphetamine stolen from police evidence lockers and extorting money from workers at an illegal massage parlor that the pair allegedly established.

See the full article from “Patch.com”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Former San Ramon police officer pleads guilty to involvement in CNET scandal

dollars in cash and property during searches of suspects’ homes and to five counts for possessing and selling drugs and stolen firearms while he worked on the Central Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team, or CNET.
He faces a maximum sentence of more than 60 years in federal prison.
The Discovery Bay resident was first arrested on similar state charges in front of the San Ramon Police Department last May.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office turned the case over to federal investigators over the summer.
Also charged in both state and federal court in the scandal are former CNET Cmdr. Norman Wielsch, 50, former Antioch police officer and private investigator Christopher Butler, 49, and former Danville police Officer Stephen Tanabe, 48.
A grand jury indicted Wielsch and Butler last August on charges of stealing from a federally financed program, selling marijuana and
methamphetamine stolen from police evidence lockers and extorting money from workers at an illegal massage parlor that the pair allegedly established.

See the full article from “San Ramon Express”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Louis Lombard Pleads Guilty

People in the courtroom Thursday were shocked to hear a police officer who has been in law enforcement for 20 years admit he took part in several serious crimes that spanned several years. 
In court, Lombardi described stealing money and other items during search warrants, using Narcotic Enforcement Team (CNET) money to buy a stolen firearm from an informant, selling drugs back to an informant from whom he seized it from, and taking two guns he logged as being destroyed. He also admitted to planning to open a illegal marijuana grow house with the intent to sell the pot to a contact in Arizona. He said most of his crimes were done with the help of police officer Norman Wielsch and a private investigator named Christopher Butler.
Federal prosecutors said Lombardi stole $40,000 worth of goods during searches of homes and massage parlors.

See the full article from “NBC Bay Area”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Masseuse arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

A two-day investigation culminated in Zhao’s arrest at the massage parlor on suspicion of sexual assault with a foreign object, Wylie said.
The woman experienced pain from the attack but was otherwise uninjured, according to Wylie. Like other sexual assault victims, she was offered counseling through the YWCA Rape Crisis Center.
Police suspect there may be other victims.
“In our experience, it’s rare that it’s the suspect’s first time,” said Wylie, adding that Zhao has worked at Relax Foot Massage for five years. He has also worked as a masseur in other Bay Area cities.
Wylie said police haven’t received other complaints about Relax Foot Massage, but it’s not uncommon for sexual assaults to go unreported. Other victims and those who suspect they may have been assaulted by Zhao are encouraged to call 650-903-6395.
The alleged sexual assault also revealed the massage parlor was violating

See the full article from “San Jose Mercury News”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Mountain View massage artist, 65, arrested for alleged sexual assault of customer

Mountain View massage artist, 65, arrested for alleged sexual assault of customer
Bay City News Service
Posted: 01/06/2012 08:07:13 PM PST
Updated: 01/06/2012 08:39:13 PM PST
MOUNTAIN VIEW — A 65-year-old Mountain View masseur was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female customer, police said.
Tong “Tony” Zhao, a masseur at Relax Foot Massage, located at 127 E. El Camino Real, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman on Monday, according to police.
The victim, who lives in San Jose, told police Zhao sexually assaulted her during a massage session in a private, sectioned-off area. She said she ended the massage immediately and reported the crime to police.
Police said she experienced pain from the assault, but was otherwise unharmed.
Following a two-day investigation, officers arrested Zhao at the massage parlor without incident.

See the full article from “San Jose Mercury News”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Owners of Palo Alto reflexology business worried new massage rules could rub …

Specializing in reflexology, Happy Feet doesn’t need to be regulated like a traditional massage parlor because it doesn’t offer secluded one-on-one sessions and clients are never naked, David Bertelsen said.

The team of city officials tasked with revamping the ordinance realizes that Happy Feet isn’t a traditional massage parlor, Cullen said. Still, the business is offering full body massages, which are subject to regulation regardless of whether the clients are clothed and in an open setting, he said.

The city’s current ordinance dates back to the mid-1970s, when authorities cracked down on a glut of seedy massage parlors along El Camino Real with names like “The Streaker” and “The Foxy Lady.”

Under the new rules, massage parlors would have to pay $750 for an operating permit and $450 to renew it. A new category would be created for sole practitioners, who would have to pay $350 for a permit and $150 to renew it.

See the full article from “San Jose Mercury News”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Relax Foot Masseur Arrested for Sexual Assault

Zhao worked at Relax Foot Massage, at 127 E. El Camino Real, for five years and before that in other Bay Area cities.
In December 2011, a female reviewer on Yelp  gave a man named “Toni” at the Relax Foot Massage a great, but cautious, review. She wrote that he “was trying to get me a female masseuse” but couldn’t and while “there were uncomfortable moments … it was certainly a great massage session and Toni was very professional.”
Wylie added that the MVPD believes that there may be other victims and asks anyone who experienced suspicious or criminal behavior at the massage parlor to contact the MVPD at 650-903-6395. The department won’t release a photo of Zhao so that they can pick him out of a line-up if asked to do so.

See the full article from “Patch.com”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Ex-Cop Held in "Dirty DUI" Sting

… Every police officer has to follow up on reports that drunk drivers
are taking to the road,” Pori said, “no matter where that report comes
from or who it comes from.”
The defense attorney said Tanabe hadn’t known that Butler was hiring
decoys to get the men drunk. He also denied that Tanabe had accepted
cocaine or a gun from Butler.
Butler was indicted in August on felony drug and corruption charges
with Norman Wielsch, 50, a former state Department of Justice agent who
once commanded an antidrug task force in Contra Costa County. Both men
pleaded not guilty and are free on bail.
In a written confession to prosecutors in March, Butler also said he
and Wielsch had operated a brothel in Pleasant Hill that fronted as a
massage parlor. Wielsch has denied any involvement in the alleged
brothel.

See the full article from “KMJ Now”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Ex-cop allegedly took coke, gun for ‘dirty DUIs’

… Every police officer has to follow up on reports that drunk drivers are taking to the road,” Pori said, “no matter where that report comes from or who it comes from.”
The defense attorney said Tanabe hadn’t known that Butler was hiring decoys to get the men drunk. He also denied that Tanabe had accepted cocaine or a gun from Butler.
Butler was indicted in August on felony drug and corruption charges with Norman Wielsch, 50, a former state Department of Justice agent who once commanded an antidrug task force in Contra Costa County. Both men pleaded not guilty and are free on bail.
In a written confession to prosecutors in March, Butler also said he and Wielsch had operated a brothel in Pleasant Hill that fronted as a massage parlor. Wielsch has denied any involvement in the alleged brothel.

See the full article from “San Francisco Chronicle”

San Jose Massage Parlors: Deputy allegedly took coke, gun for ‘dirty DUIs’

… Every police officer has to follow up on reports that drunk drivers are taking to the road,” Pori said, “no matter where that report comes from or who it comes from.”
The defense attorney said Tanabe hadn’t known that Butler was hiring decoys to get the men drunk. He also denied that Tanabe had accepted cocaine or a gun from Butler.
Butler was indicted in August on felony drug and corruption charges with Norman Wielsch, 50, a former state Department of Justice agent who once commanded an anti-drug task force in Contra Costa County. Both men pleaded not guilty and are free on bail.
In a written confession to prosecutors in March, Butler also said he and Wielsch had operated a brothel in Pleasant Hill that fronted as a massage parlor. Wielsch has denied any involvement in the alleged brothel.

See the full article from “San Francisco Chronicle”

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