On May 15, 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit in Williamson County Courts to halt the operations of Sun Spa, an illicit massage business located on Pond Springs Road in Austin. The lawsuit followed an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Human Trafficking Unit, which uncovered evidence of illicit sexual activity at the establishment.
Attorney General Paxton's legal action against Sun Spa is part of a broader initiative aimed at eradicating illicit massage businesses across Texas. Under his leadership, the OAG’s Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime Division has effectively shut down several such businesses in central Texas through its Landlord Engagement Program. This program previously led to the closure of Essence Spa and prompted property owners to issue eviction notices to four other illicit massage businesses in Austin. In San Antonio, three similar establishments were closed after property owners were notified by the OAG about illegal activities.
Nationwide, approximately 9,000 illicit massage businesses are estimated to be operating, with around 1,000 located in Texas. These establishments often disguise commercial sex services as legitimate massage therapy and many employees are victims of human trafficking. Attorney General Paxton has prioritized combating human trafficking and shutting down businesses that facilitate such activities.