Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo has terminated the lease of K&T Foot Spa in St. James after reports emerged that the establishment was allegedly offering sexual services to customers. The decision came after Puleo learned of allegations, initially surfaced in online reviews, that masseuses at the spa propositioned clients for sexual acts.
One Yelp review from January described a situation where a customer was allegedly asked, "You want?" by a masseuse who then made a "suggestive hand gesture" after a foot massage. The owner, Tom Hagzan, reportedly responded to the review at the time, stating that the spa did not tolerate such behavior and that the employee would be addressed. However, subsequent reports suggested that these activities continued, with some customers arriving after closing hours.
Puleo, who owns the strip mall where the spa is located, stated he was "shocked" and "disappointed" upon learning of the alleged activities. His spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, emphasized that Puleo was not involved in the daily operations of the spa and was unaware of the illicit services. "As soon as he found out, he terminated their lease and reached out to the [District Attorney] and [Suffolk County police] to investigate," Shapiro said.
Representatives for the spa claimed their lease had "expired" when contacted by The Post but did not directly address the allegations of prostitution. It remains unclear if the District Attorney's office has launched an investigation.
The closure of K&T Foot Spa occurs amid a broader law enforcement effort targeting illegal massage parlors in Suffolk County. Last week, District Attorney Ray Tierney announced the indictment of 10 individuals in connection with a long-term investigation into four spas and a parlor in Flushing. Authorities allege these establishments operated as fronts for prostitution, generating over $1 million in illicit profits. Xiaolan Gong, 59, faces charges including enterprise corruption for allegedly running a large-scale prostitution ring and laundering proceeds. Search warrants executed at the locations and residences of some defendants reportedly yielded cash and gold bars.