A Far West Side massage parlor was ordered closed Wednesday after an undercover law enforcement investigation found the business was a front for prostitution.

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein obtained a temporary restraining order in Franklin County Environmental Court against the Sunflower Asian Spa, 5327 Westpointe Plaza Drive in a shopping center near the intersection of Renner and Hilliard-Rome roads.

The order was served at 3 p.m. Wednesday in a raid conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff's office and city agents. The sheriff's office had been investigating the business since last September after receiving information about potential prostitution and human trafficking occurring there. Representatives from Asian American Community Services were on hand to assist any of the workers in need of help.

Patrons paid $60 for an hour-long massage and were then led to a back room. Workers usually requested an additional $40 to perform illegal sex acts. One individual stated that her "boss" keeps the initial $60 and she only makes money from tips, according to a release from the city attorney's office.

Certified mail was sent to the business in October and November last year, notifying them about the illegal activity at the premises. Sunflower Asia Spa was never properly registered with the state, but investigators determined that Yulian Fu of Grandview Heights was in charge of the place, the city's attorney's office said.

"The detectives of our special investigations unit work every day to help fight human trafficking and prostitution," said Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin. "Once they began investigating this business, their thoroughness allowed us and City Attorney Klein's office to shut this place down."

Klein thanked the sheriff's office for their work on the case.

"Ohio is fourth in the nation for reported human trafficking cases, and studies show that women trapped by sex trafficking have mortality rates 200 times greater than average, with the most common causes of death being homicide, suicide and substance abuse," Klein said.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story had Sunflower Asia Spa because that is how the business' name is listed on its website. The sign outside the business, however, uses Asian.

jwoods@dispatch.com

@Woodsnight