A massage business in south Marion County had its license permanently revoked and must pay a $5,000 fine after the state found that it was employing unlicensed masseuses.
The Florida Board of Massage Therapy issued the final order of revocation against Body and Mind Rejuvenation, LLC, in Summerfield, on November 12. It was filed with the Florida Department of Health on December 1.
According to an administrative complaint filed by the state, Haying Liu is the designated establishment manager of the business, which is located at 17860 SE 109th Avenue, Unit 615, in the Spruce Creek Shoppes plaza.
On January 11, 2024, an undercover investigator visited the establishment for a massage. Liu offered two employees at the time that were not licensed as massage therapists in the state.
The complaint alleges that Liu hired the individuals to provide massage therapy services despite knowing they did not have valid licenses.
“The company knowingly hired unlicensed individuals after being previously informed not to,” reads a portion of the complaint.
State law prohibits massage establishments from “aiding, assisting, procuring, or advising any unlicensed person to practice massage.”
According to the order, the state held a hearing to discuss the matter on October 22. The company was not present for that meeting.
Because the company failed to submit an election of rights or otherwise dispute the facts or “respond in any way other way,” it waived the right to a hearing and the complaint was adopted in its entirety.
In addition to revoking the business’s license, the state also imposed a $5,000 fine that must be paid within 90 days. The massage parlor will also be responsible for covering costs of investigation and prosecution totaling $1,680.27. That total must also be paid within 90 days of the board’s decision.
Over the past 18 months, several other massage businesses across the county have lost their licenses as well:
- Clearwater Management, LLC, voluntarily relinquished its license amidst accusations that at least two employees of the company offered undercover workers sexual services
- An employee at New Maple Massage Spa in Ocala was arrested for allegedly offering sexual services to an undercover agent
- Lucky Queen Spa and its designated establishment manager, Qu Tan, had their licenses revoked last December
- Ocala Sun Spa Massage was cited after one of its unlicensed employees allegedly offered “manual masturbation” to an undercover inspector