The Kern County Sheriff's Office and the Kern County Department of Public Health Services conducted an undercover sting operation in three different massage businesses May 22 in unincorporated parts of Kern County.

At the first location, 168 Massage, located on Rosedale Highway, detectives cited 51-year-old Xia Gao for exposing her genitals, touching of genitals and soliciting prostitution. Two other therapists were providing massages without a valid California Massage Therapy Council. 

At a second location, Ace Massage on Stockdale Highway, detectives cited 53-year-old Jin Chunyu for similar charges to Gao. 

Public Health notified each facility that they must close immediately.

A third business, Japanese Massage on Stockdale Highway, was in the process of applying for a massage establishment permit. They were found in violation of multiple code ordinances. 

This is the fifth sting operation conducted by Public Health and KCSO. Thirteen different establishments have been investigated and 100% of them have resulted in violations. Thirteen massage therapists have been arrested on similar charges to Gao and Chunyu.