Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) -- A local man is facing charges of operating a prostitution ring in a Jeffersontown business park just off Hurstbourne Parkway.
Thomas Huber was arrested Wednesday for promoting and permitting prostitution. Police say he opened Tranquil Gardens massage parlor two months ago and since then has employed young women who offer sexual services in addition to the massage.
An online ad for Tranquil Gardens offers $60 for a half hour massage and $80 for an hour. It also shows women who are said to perform the massages. According to police, they split their fee with Huber.
'I think a larger picture is a drug addiction and this is how they pay for that addiction', said Major Ken Hatmaker of the Jeffersontown Police Department.
Tranquil Gardens is located in an ordinary office complex and some neighboring businesses were surprised to hear the charges.
'I was shocked, I was extremely shocked, you know I look at the couple business that are in that strip are there, yeah it's pretty alarming and shocking,' says Andrew Atchison, a neighboring business owner.
Huber, 53, also faces a felony charge for possession of a stolen gun and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.
Police have not cited any of the men they believe may have paid for sex, and have only cited one of the alleged prostitutes. They say that's because this suspected brothel is part of a bigger drug investigation.
