Police, Fire & Courts

Brick Spa Allegedly Utilized in Prostitution Ring

by
Daniel Nee
May 27, 2026

Joha’s Spa, Brick, NJ (File Photo)

A spa in Brick Township was one of four that were identified by authorities as having been utilized as part of a prostitution ring.

The revelation came Tuesday in an announcement by Sayreville (Middlesex County) police, announced the arrest of Kelly Jahnke-Gonzalez, 44, of Jackson, the purported ringleader of the operation and owner of the spas. Sayreville police also seized “significant assets tied to an alleged network of unlicensed spas operating as houses of prostitution,” a statement from Chief Daniel Plumacker said.

Following a months-long investigation, the Sayreville Police Department’s Vice Unit, executed search warrants on May 12, resulting in the arrest of Jahnke-Gonzalez. The investigation began in October 2025 when the Sayreville vice unit initiated a probe into several businesses, including multiple spas operating under her name. Investigators determined that she was allegedly managing numerous unlicensed spa locations being used for prostitution activities across Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties.

Kelly Jahnke-Gonzalez (Photo: Sayreville Police Department)

In Brick, the spa linked to Jahnke-Gonzalez is Joha’s Spa, located at 1758 Route 88 in the Laurelton Plaza strip mall – roughly across the street from the township’s Costco store. The spa’s website said the facility is designed for “men seeking a moment of escape and renewal.” The other spas were located in Jackson, Millstone Township and Sayreville.

After what was described as “extensive surveillance, undercover operations, and financial analysis,” investigators submitted an affidavit of probable cause to the Middlesex County Superior Court. On May 12, 2026, search warrants were executed at multiple businesses, corporate offices, and Jahnke-Gonzalez’s residence spanning several counties. Jahnke-Gonzalez was apprehended at her residence without incident. Searches resulted in the seizure of over $100,000 in hidden cash, the freezing of several bank accounts, and the recovery of additional evidence supporting the allegations, the statement said.

Jahnke-Gonzalez faces four charges of promoting prostitution, and single counts of maintaining a nuisance, money laundering an misconduct of a corporate official.