More Than a Massage
For most people, a massage business is just that—a place to relax and get some knots worked out. But when tips about possible illicit activity at one such business in Middleton, MA landed on my desk over the past two weeks, I knew I needed to take a closer look.
I’ve spent 20 years in the investigative realm. That’s long enough to know when something looks off and long enough to recognize patterns that most people might overlook. What I found with ACE Spa at 171 N Main St, Unit D raises serious questions.
Edit: The sign out says “Rainbow Spa.” However it’s not registered with the state (perhaps a DBA – which I’m investigating). I do think it’s all connected.
The Investigation
ACE SPA LLC was formed in April 2023. When I pulled the Secretary of State records, one of the listed managers was Qinfei Chan.
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In 2011 & 2012 news reports show that a person with the same name was charged in Danvers, MA in a prostitution case connected to a massage business called Newbury Body Work. This wasn’t a misunderstanding that was cleared up—it was a case that fell apart because police officers failed to appear in court three separate times.
Three missed court dates in a row is more than unusual. I’m not accusing anyone of intentionally causing that outcome, but when the arresting officers fail to show on three separate occasions, it leaves the public without answers.
The Paperwork Shuffle — How These Businesses Stay Alive
Fast forward to 2024. The business filings change. The listed resident agent becomes Yi Zhao. On paper, it looks like a new owner. In reality, the address is the same. The operation continues.
If you work investigations long enough, you learn that this is a common tactic. Illicit massage businesses often cycle through names on their corporate paperwork. The goal is to distance the current operation from past legal trouble, make it harder for outsiders to connect the dots, and reduce scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement. The business type & address staying the same is the tell.
The Present — Ads That Tell a Different Story
ACE Spa is still running. But not all its advertising is the kind you’d expect from a licensed therapeutic clinic. The address and phone number show up in online listings that strongly imply sexual services. Some are on booking platforms with suggestive service menus; others appear on adult-service review forums—sites legitimate massage therapists avoid entirely.
When you see those ads alongside the history of a listed manager tied to prostitution charges, and you factor in the paperwork shuffle, the pattern becomes harder to ignore.
Why This Matters
This isn’t about making wild accusations. It’s about laying out the facts and asking the questions they naturally lead to. Across the country, businesses like this have been tied to exploitation, trafficking, and organized crime. Communities have a right to know who’s operating within their borders and what their track record looks like.
If you know anything about ACE Spa—good or bad—leave a comment or message me privately. If you have first-hand knowledge of a crime, report it to the proper law enforcement agency.
Middleton is a good community. We have a right to keep it that way.
Thanks for reading!
Sept 2025 Update
I have great news. Two weeks after I reported on this case in my Middleton Real Talk group on Facebook, the police in a joint operation took action and raided the business. Now it’s being reported that they are clearing out. The problem isn’t solved, though. Half the battle was getting them out of there. The other half is making arrests. Time will tell if that happens.