Woman arrested changed name to S-Spa

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A NewsChannel 15 investigation has uncovered the woman arrested for prostitution at a local spa, Tuesday, also changed the name of the business months after a previous prostitution arrest.

An undercover Fort Wayne officer arrested Jean Derrico at the S-Spa Massage Parlor on 6210 Lima Road. After the officer got the massage, he made a deal to exchange a sex act for money and arrested Derrico on the spot.

In May, police arrested Hye Suk Cruze for prostitution. She was an employee of the Sun Spa at the same location.

In August, Derrico filed a 'certificate of assumed business name' for a new oriental health spa at the same address. She was changing the name to 'S-Spa.'

"Our first reaction when we saw this was: it was kind of a joke," said Allen County Recorder John McGauley. When the paperwork hit his desk, he immediately called NewsChannel 15. "Because the names were so similar, it almost seemed kinda silly."

McGauley says banks require businesses to file for a certificate of assumed business name. He thinks Derrico may have changed the name of the spa in order to open up a new bank account and wipe the slate clean.

"This may be one of the ways that somebody would go out and try to re-establish their credit, re-establish a bank account," said McGauley.

"It's not uncommon for that type of an operation to shut down and reopen under another name, sometimes in a different location, and offer the same types of service" agrees Fort Wayne police officer Raquel Foster. She says that's why it's so easy for these places to stick around.

"We shut that business down and as you can see today they were back up and running," said Foster. "It is frustrating."

Police can only go so far as to make arrests. The city attorney and the county prosecutor can get involved to temporarily or permanently revoke a business license. NewsChannel 15 could not find out Tuesday if S-Spa even had a business license, but will keep investigating.