Williston Spa Under Investigation for Suspected Human Trafficking Since 2011

An Asian massage parlor in Williston where male customers routinely paid for massages and sexual favors has been under investigation since at least April 2011 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for suspected human trafficking and financial fraud, court papers revealed Tuesday.

These and other details about the Harmony Health Spa were included in an affidavit filed Tuesday in the arraignment of Tom Booska (pictured) in Chittenden Superior Court in Burlington.

Booska, 68, who owns the building that until late last week housed the Harmony Health Spa, at 5649 Williston Road, pled not guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of “prohibited acts,” for allegedly allowing prostitution to occur on his premises. If convicted, Booska faces up to one year in jail.

Though he denied the allegations, Booska said through his attorney that he plans to cooperate with investigators.

“This particular property has been a problem for close to 10 years,” Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan said Tuesday, referring to a police raid on the establishment in 2004 that netted eight female workers believed to be sex slaves. “Mr. Booska was on notice. He failed to act. The [sex] acts continued and that’s why he’s in court today.”