Edison Police Raid Bliss Spa, Owner Faces Prostitution Charges

Edison Township Police conducted a raid on Bliss Spa, a massage parlor located on Route 27, following a months-long investigation into alleged prostitution activities at the establishment. The operation, which involved undercover officers and surveillance, resulted in the arrest of the spa’s owner and charges related to promoting prostitution.

Daniela DiLenno, 38, of Edison, the owner of Bliss Spa, was charged with promoting prostitution in the third degree, maintaining a nuisance, and money laundering, according to MyCentralJersey.com.

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Investigation Details

According to Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan, the investigation began in February after numerous complaints from local residents and businesses about suspicious activity at the spa. Undercover officers were deployed to the establishment multiple times over a three-month period, documenting evidence of illegal sexual services being offered for money.

“Our officers observed a pattern of exclusively male clientele, unusual business hours, and customers being buzzed in through a secured entrance,” said Chief Bryan. “These are typical indicators of illicit massage businesses operating as fronts for prostitution.”

The investigation also revealed that the business was advertising on websites known to promote illicit massage services and using coded language to indicate sexual services were available, according to NJ.com.

Raid and Arrests

The raid, conducted on Monday morning, involved over a dozen officers from Edison Police Department’s Special Operations Group and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office investigators. Authorities executed search warrants at both the spa and DiLenno’s residence.

During the operation, police seized approximately $42,000 in cash, business records, electronic devices, and other evidence allegedly connected to prostitution activities. Investigators also discovered that the establishment lacked proper licensing for massage therapy services.

“This operation wasn’t just about prostitution—it was about potential human trafficking and exploitation,” said Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. “We’re still investigating whether any of the workers were victims of trafficking.”

Legal Consequences

DiLenno was processed at Edison Police Headquarters and released pending a first appearance in Middlesex County Superior Court scheduled for next Tuesday. If convicted on all charges, she could face up to 10 years in prison and significant fines.

Third-degree promoting prostitution carries a potential sentence of 3-5 years in state prison, while the money laundering charges could add additional penalties depending on the amount involved. The township has also initiated proceedings to permanently revoke the business license.

“These types of operations often involve exploitation of vulnerable individuals and can be hubs for other criminal activities,” explained legal analyst Maria Gonzalez of Rutgers Law School, as reported by TAPinto Edison.

Community Response

The raid has drawn support from local business owners who had complained about the establishment’s activities. Peter Nguyen, who owns a restaurant in the same shopping plaza, expressed relief about the police action.

“We’ve been concerned about what was happening there for months,” Nguyen said. “The constant flow of men coming and going at all hours was making other customers uncomfortable and affecting legitimate businesses in the area.”

Township officials indicated that this operation is part of a broader crackdown on illicit massage businesses in Edison. Mayor Sam Joshi commended the police department’s work, noting that the township has recently strengthened ordinances regarding massage establishments to better combat illegal operations.

“We’re committed to ensuring that all businesses in Edison operate legally and ethically,” Mayor Joshi stated. “This kind of activity has no place in our community, and we’ll continue working to shut down any similar operations.”

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