Restraining order filed against Springfield businesses; massage parlors rub attorney general the wrong way

(From Attorney General Josh Hawley)

Attorney General Josh Hawley and attorneys from the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office brought a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a number of the massage parlors that were raided on Thursday as part of a major crackdown against suspect human trafficking in Springfield, Missouri.

Thursday afternoon, Attorney General Hawley filed an emergency civil action to immediately halt all prostitution and trafficking activity at the massage parlors. That petition was granted by the court Friday morning. The order will prohibit those activities during the pendency of the civil case.

“This order sends a clear message to human traffickers everywhere,” Hawley said. “Don’t come to our state. Don’t commit your crimes here. Don’t prey on our children. If you do, we will find you out and we will prosecute you. And that’s exactly what we have done.”​