A Dallas business was raided. Police say it was operating as a "sexual encounter center".
Two men are facing charges after the Dallas Police Department said the pair ran a "sexual encounter center" without a license.
The department said it raided a warehouse along Manana Drive near Harry Hines Boulevard on Friday, April 17.
On social media, it's advertised as 4500 ft.² of open space.
Spayse Studios on Manana Drive in Northwest Dallas is also promoted as a venue for "adult kink parties." This studio is located in a neighborhood surrounded by industrial and low-profile office space.
Detectives reportedly learned that patrons could pay a cover fee to enter the business and engage in sexual contact, a violation of the city's Sexually Oriented Business ordinance.
During the search, police said they detained 48 people. Warrants reviewed by CBS News Texas claim that the people who were detained told officers they paid the entry fee of about $35 to participate. However, the warrants also indicated that Spayse Studios did not have the appropriate license to operate as a Sexually Oriented Business.
Officers also said they seized 227 grams of marijuana, 671 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and about 11,000 grams of THC hash oil. Detectives also recovered $11,000 in cash, electronic devices, and pleasure devices, along with a cargo van that is believed to have been used in the production of pornography.
Two suspects, identified as 53-year-old Israel Luna and 42-year-old Marc Tuton, were taken into custody. Police said the men promoted the event. The arrest warrants revealed Tuton reportedly admitted that he regularly used social media to promote sex parties that happened on every first and third friday of each month, which he hosted, that were also filmed and shared online.
The warrants also showed that Luna reportedly admitted he received compensation for the events, including those shared on the internet, and that he had maintained a website for the videos. Luna, according to the warrant, was also publicly open on social media about hosting the events and producing sexual content.
Luna is charged with possession of a controlled substance over 400 grams, promotion of prostitution, possession of marijuana between four ounces and five pounds, and operating a sexually oriented business without a license. Tuton is charged with operating a sexually oriented business without a license.
Dallas PD has not said whether the 48 people inside the studio at the time will be charged, though the warrants noted each person was released after a check found no warrants active for them.
