AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has obtained a temporary injunction prohibiting nine massage establishments located in the Houston and Beaumont areas and owned by Hsin Wei Chen, aka Andy Chen, or Andrew Chen, from continuing to operate, the agency said in an August 19 press release. The temporary injunction also prevents Chen from operating or owning any other massage establishment in the state.

The temporary injunction was issued on August 14 by visiting Judge Donnie Burgess, sitting in the 345th District Court in Austin. TDLR sought the temporary injunction after Chen failed to comply with an emergency order issued by the Department on May 30, 2024, which required immediate closure of establishments licensed under his name. A hearing for a permanent injunction is scheduled for September 30.

TDLR, with the assistance of the Texas Office of the Attorney General, also sought the temporary injunction because Chen has continued to operate massage establishments instead of permanently leaving the massage industry as he’d agreed to in a June order entered into after the emergency closure order was issued. The temporary injunction keeps Chen from owning, operating, managing, engaging in, working in, or being employed by massage establishments in Texas. If Chen continues to operate massage establishments or work in the massage industry, he could be held in contempt of court and face fines and/or jail time.

“We appreciate the assistance of the Texas Office of the Attorney General in this matter,” said Courtney Arbour, TDLR executive director. “Massage establishment owners who are suspected of human trafficking should know that TDLR will pursue other enforcement actions when an owner continues to operate after agreeing to a permanent license revocation or receipt of an emergency closure order.”

TDLR issued the May 30 emergency closure order against one of Chen’s establishments, Foot Reflexology Star, 10801 Spring Cypress Rd., Ste. 12, Houston, when TDLR inspectors found reasonable cause that human trafficking could be happening at the establishment. Chen has had a previous enforcement case with TDLR involving similar conduct.

In a June 2024 agreed order, Chen agreed to close all massage establishments licensed in his name and to permanently leave the massage industry. The nine massage establishments licensed under his name include these locations in or near the Katy area:

· L&P Massage LLC, 2808 Hwy 6 S., Ste. IA, Houston

· Ly Massage, 17802 W. Little York Rd., Ste. D, Houston

The emergency closure order issued in May 2024 was the first emergency closure ordered by TDLR under authority granted by House Bill 3579, authored by Rep. Ben Bumgarner and sponsored by Sen. Phil King, and passed by the 88th Texas Legislature. Under the law, which went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023, TDLR’s

executive director can issue an emergency order halting the operation of any massage establishment if law enforcement or TDLR believes human trafficking is occurring at the establishment.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring can contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities. You can also file a complaint on a TDLR-regulated business that you suspect may be participating in human trafficking by going to tdlr.texas.gov/complaints/.