WARREN - The attorney for one of the managers of a massage parlor closed since it was raided by police three weeks ago has asked a judge for sanctions against an investigator and the investigator's legal counsel.
Jeffrey Goodman, a lawyer representing James Foster of the Gemini Health Spa, wants sanctions against state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation Agent Al Bansky for not appearing at a deposition Friday and also for his lawyer for advising Bansky not to appear.
Bansky was asked earlier this week to appear at the deposition and to bring the entire BCI file on the case as it relates to Foster and the Gemini Health Spa.
The hearing on an injunction against the parlors declaring them nuisances was postponed at the request of business owners and is set for Monday.
Attorney J. Eric Holloway of the state attorney general's office filed his motion Wednesday, asking that Bansky be excused from the deposition, saying that the criminal investigation into the parlors is ongoing, and he should not be forced to bring any potential evidence.
Additionally, Holloway wrote that not enough time was given to prepare for the deposition and that the request for Bansky to appear was sent to the City of Warren, which is not Bansky's employer.
Because Bansky did not appear for the deposition and did not file a protective order asking not to appear, he should be forced to reimburse Foster court costs, Goodman's motion states.
Bansky did not return a message seeking comment.
BCI and the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office are pursuing an investigation into human trafficking and racketeering at the parlors.
The allegations surfaced in a yearlong undercover investigation by BCI agents and affidavits from the customers accompanied search warrants that were served during a citywide sweep May 30.