Santa Fe issues cease-and-desist for South St. Francis massage business after inspections and online evidence

The City of Santa Fe Finance Committee approved a cease-and-desist order for Yang Yang/Pony Massage at 1225 South St. Francis Drive after land-use inspectors and police described evidence the establishment was operating contrary to public welfare.

Land use staff summarized inspection findings and online advertisements that, staff said, indicated sexual services being offered. "We have been coordinating with the Santa Fe Police Department on these efforts around human trafficking and illicit massage parlors," Director Maggie Moore said, describing a citizen report this summer and subsequent inspections that observed unlicensed individuals on the premises.

Nut graf: Staff told the committee the business had a history of inspections that found unlicensed personnel and online postings advertising sexual activities; a police complaint of an assault was reported but not pursued criminally by the complainant. Because the business owner did not appear at the quasi-judicial hearing and staff judged the property out of compliance after follow-up inspections, the committee voted to issue the order.

Moore showed excerpts of online advertisements and user reviews referring to sexualized services and pseudonyms; staff also noted the business’s prior one-year business license and that the property had previously been inspected. "This is evidence of continuous activity…not legitimate massage activity," Moore said, citing multiple online entries with dates from earlier in the year.

Sergeant Diana Conklin of the Santa Fe Police Department was present to answer questions about police involvement; staff said the complainant declined to pursue criminal charges but reported the incident to police. City Attorney staff advised the committee that director testimony could be accepted as an offer of proof where the complainant had declined to pursue charges.

Because the owner/operator did not appear to contest the allegations or present evidence, the committee considered staff findings as uncontradicted and approved the cease-and-desist order by roll call. The order will be served and signed by the chair, and staff will follow enforcement procedures per city code.

Next steps: The city will serve the order and retain the record of inspections and online evidence; the business may seek administrative review or provide compliance information to city staff if it chooses to contest the order.