Nineteen people, mostly workers and parlor owners, were taken into custody. The parlors were located in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights.
The office of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes says the massage parlors and day spas advertised sex services on websites like Craigslist and The Village Voice.
Officials say the massage parlors were not linked, and the arrests were the result of a year-long investigation.
Residents from the neighborhood reportedly noticed the activities and told their local community board.
Representatives from the community board will discuss the arrests at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
A number of city agencies were involved in the investigation.
