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Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | 2:24 a.m.

Updated: 8:27 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 | Posted: 4:57 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011

UPDATE: Las Cruces Prostitution Ring Bust Could Have Ties To El Paso

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Las Cruces Sun-News

By Samantha Manning

LAS CRUCES, N.M. —

UPDATE: Las Cruces police have arrested and charged two more women with prostitution.

Officers said Myung Hee Ok and Hyang Sook Kim are the latest women to be accused of prostitution. This comes after local police and the FBI raided two Las Cruces businesses on Wednesday. The massage parlors are right next to each other, but authorities told KFOX14 that Bally Hot Stone Spa and the Green Hot Stone Spa have separate owners. Police are now searching for them.

Las Cruces District Attorney Amy Orlando said one of the spas involved in the prostitution ring bust Wednesday could have other operations in other locations, including El Paso.

Orlando said police are investigating whether Bally Hot Stone Spa on Don Roser Street has similar prostitution fronts in other parts of the country.

"It appears that the Bally, maybe, is more well known, might be running some operations in Texas and other states," Orlando said.

Police also arrested 62-year-old Suk Cha on charges of prostitution and promoting prostitution.

Orlando said Cha was supposedly working as the cleaner and cook at Bally Hot Stone Spa, but Orlando said her real duties included escorting the men to the girls who performed the sexual acts.

"Her job was to escort the customers in," Orlando said. "She, I believe, did the transactions with the money."

Dan Trujillo of the Las Cruces Police Department said police were talking to two women, one from each of the spas. Orlando said both women have admitted to working as prostitutes at the spas and are cooperating with police.

As for the two known prostitutes, Orlando said they weren't there against their will.

"They've admitted that was their job," Orlando said. "They knew that's what they were supposed to do and were engaging in it willingly."

As for the men who paid for the sexual services, Orlando said police have video surveillance of their cars and license plates. She said police suggest they come forward before they are pursued by police.

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