Asheville spa owner arrested on bribery charges after allegedly paying undercover cop

ASHEVILLE - A local spa owner faces two felony charges after police say she allegedly bribed a detective during an investigation into illegal business operations at two Asheville massage parlors.

Jianmei Gao, 55, of Flushing, New York, was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with misdemeanor aiding and abetting prostitution and two counts of felony offering bribes, according to court records. Her arrest warrant alleges she aided and abetted “prostitution, assignation” by maintaining “a business (massage parlor) that provided sexual acts to paying customers.”