Written by Sophia Vance, Staff Reporter
On October 12, 2026, 13 arrests across eight spa locations were made in Roanoke County under the suspicion of prostitution and human trafficking.
After receiving citizen complaints concerning illicit spa activity, Roanoke County Police Department began their investigation into these concerns in 2023. On Monday, October 12, the police department was able to execute search warrants at several spa locations. These spas included Relaxing Choice Spa at 5346 Peters Creek Road, Red Apple Asian Massage at 8201 Williamson Road, Summer Body Work at 7307 Williamson Road (Suite B), Best Spa at 6429 Williamson Road, YJN at 2155 Electric Road, Sunny Spa at 3652 Brambleton Avenue, Amazing Body Works at 3212 Brambleton Avenue, Angel Massage at 3109 Brambleton Avenue.
By October 13, the police department had made thirteen arrests in connection with the investigation of illicit activity at these locations. 11 individuals were arrested from the massage parlors and charged with the misdemeanor of maintaining a bawdy place. A bawdy place, under Virginia code, is a place used for lewdness or prostitution. These individuals are being held without bond in Western Virginia Regional Jail located in Salem and are facing potential time in prison.
Additionally, two more arrests were made at a residence in Daleville with the assistance of Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office. 70 year old Danny Deboard and 56 year-old Oliver Baugess were both arrested for frequenting a bawdy place. These two men are not in jail and will not appear in court until later this month.
During the investigation, police found numerous contraceptives, sex toys, and unclothed men and women inside these businesses. The police also seized three vehicles that collectively contained over $44,000 in cash. Investigation allegedly confirmed further illicit activity when a worker attempted to perform a sexual act on a police informant.
Unfortunately, police suspect that this case is not as simple as a series of prostitution offenses. The Lampstand, a Roanoke nonprofit that provides aid to and awareness of human trafficking victims, has pointed out several vulnerabilities that could be indicative of human trafficking in this case.
Firstly, the 11 women charged with maintaining a bawdy place are not from Roanoke, but rather from New York and Texas, and they all claim to have come to the area in the last few months or weeks. There is evidence that these women were living at the massage parlors, which is another vulnerability police departments take note of. All of the women are of Chinese descent, and many struggled to speak English at their arraignments on October 13. Although an interpreter was used, many of the women still requested their phones for translation. One woman even attempted to plead guilty, a confession that is meant to be evaluated further down the legal line.
Struggling to understand the language and judicial process, being unhoused, being unfamiliar with the area- all of these factors leave these 11 women more vulnerable and could indicate that this case is more complex than initially suspected, police believe.
Human trafficking is an issue that can go much deeper than other violent crimes. Human trafficking strips victims of their identity, purpose, and dignity. This can leave victims with wounds that persist long after investigations are over, and unfortunately, it’s a prevalent issue in Roanoke County. Just in February, a bridal shop just down the street from these spa locations was raided and police broke the alleged human trafficking ring that was run from that location. Education, familiarity with the signs, and resources to provide aid are all crucial aspects of bettering the issue of human trafficking within our community.
As police departments and other legal actors work to navigate and untangle these complicated and tragic situations, individuals in Roanoke County can also make note of red flags of human trafficking.
If someone has observations and wishes to do something, do not confront the situation directly. Rather, call 911 if someone is in immediate danger. If the threat is not immediate, contact the Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit at #77 or text “VSP” to 847411, an autonomous text hotline. Additional resources are available at the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Preventing human trafficking and further victimization is something that Roanoke Police Department and residents of the area can work together in order to achieve.
