By Meghan McCormick
A Norman massage parlor located next door to the office for an after school children's program was allegedly a front for a prostitution and drug trafficking ring, according to investigators.
An investigation into alleged illegal activities at Oriental Tokyo Health Massage, 1035 N. Flood Ave., began about a year ago, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control spokesperson Mark Woodward said. Both the OBN and Cleveland County Sheriff's Department took part in the joint investigation.
"This massage business was nothing more than a front for the defendant's prostitution ring," Woodward said. "Additionally, the defendant was trafficking cocaine from this location."
Cleveland County prosecutors charged the massage parlor owner Sun Aldrich, 61, of Del City, on Wednesday with two counts of soliciting prostitution within 1,000 feet of school. Aldrich is being held at the county jail on a $100,000 bond.
An employee of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department said Aldrich was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Thursday afternoon.
According to charges filed against Aldrich, the massage parlor is located within 1,000 feet of Adams Elementary School.
Two court affidavits were filed with the charges. According to the affidavits, as part of the investigation, two undercover OBN agents visited the parlor on separate dates in January. Aldrich offered to perform sex acts in exchange for $60.
According to the OBN, Aldrich is expected to face additional charges of cocaine trafficking, illegal possession of drug proceeds, and unlawful use of wire transfers.
Woodward said Aldrich routinely used wire transfers to disseminate thousands of dollars in illegal drug and prostitution proceeds across the United States and outside the country.
OBN agents and Cleveland County Sheriff's Department investigators served search warrants at the business and at Aldrich's home Wednesday. Investigators seized drugs, several vehicles and bank accounts, according to OBN. The investigation is still on-going.
Meghan McCormick
366-3539
mmccormick@normantranscript.com
