Police say a body-lotion store in Boca Raton, Fla., offered more services than it advertised.

Located in a nondescript two-story office building, La Place was listed as a "manufacturer representative for cosmetics and/or lotions." But detectives say its advertisements in adult magazines such as "Xcitement" and "Adult Fun 411" feature scantily clad Asian women and suggest a different kind of operation.

Boca Raton Sgt. Jeff Kelly said police exposed La Place as a brothel, where employees engaged in sexual activities with clients in exchange for money.

La Place's owner, Norman Pyecha, 69, four employees — Elizabeth Bedregal, 33, Jessica Beleno, 31, Sari Anne Johnson, 40, and Carmen Zapata, 31 — were arrested Monday on prostitution-related charges.

In addition, police arrested Alan Angell, 51, after he left La Place and charged him with purchasing the services of a prostitute. 

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According to reports, police received an anonymous tip last July about the prostitution operation at La Place. Customers would pay $40 to $80 to enter the store and then were taken to a back room, where they were told to "get comfortable."

The caller, who said he used to be a customer, said La Place was run by Pyecha and Thianthong Mung McCollough, who went by "Pam." McCollough would stash used condoms in soda cans to hide evidence in case police arrived.

Kelly said police began careful surveillance of the business and discovered evidence in a Dumpster, including used condoms and empty tubes of body cream.

Police also found torn-up pieces of paper that appeared to be prostitutes' schedules.

Detectives also monitored a Web chat room topic on Independentgirls.com, where some users described the sexual acts they experienced at La Place. One man wrote that he always left La Place with a "huge smile" and recommended a woman there who provided particularly exciting service.

"For any man, this is a must-see," he wrote.

Kelly said prostitution is not a victimless crime and presents a major health issue.

"These women have unprotected sex during the day with multiple partners," he said. "And then the men go home to their wives, significant others, who are really the silent victims."

Police were finally able to crack down on La Place more than a year after the investigation began. Kelly said detectives were simultaneously investigating another "adult massage parlor" down the street.

"When you hit one, the other ones tend to dry up," he said. "The customers get frightened."

Kelly said three other prostitutes employed at La Place and 42 customers will also be charged. He said prostitution tends to decrease when police target the "johns."

"If you take away the demand for these places, there won't be a supply," he said.