Two people have been arrested for allegedly running a prostitution business out of a DeKalb County spa shop, police said Monday.
After several tips into alleged criminal activity at the Himalayan Salt Therapy located in the 2800 block of Buford Highway, officers began an undercover investigation, according to Officer Carlos Nino with Brookhaven police.
On May 4 at 8:30 p.m., an undercover officer went into the business and was solicited by Maria G. Favela for sexual favors, Nino said. Both Favela and a man in the shop, Mateo Martinez Hernandez, were arrested without incident.
Favela, 35, of Atlanta, was charged with prostitution, according to police. Hernandez, 34, of Brookhaven, was charged with keeping a place of prostitution. Both were booked into the DeKalb County jail. Both were released after each posting $1,000 bond, booking records showed.
While executing a search warrant in the business, investigators found evidence that the shop was being used as a place of prostitution, Nino said. The business was not equipped to provide professional massage or salt therapy services.
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