Article by the Journal Sentinel

A massage parlor opens for business with state licenses in hand and customers begin streaming in, until it becomes apparent something is not quite right inside.

At some point, one or more customers tell police — as has happened in New Berlin, Waukesha, West Allis, Greenfield, Franklin and elsewhere in recent years — that they've been enticed by a masseuse who offered sexual acts in exchange for cash beyond the routine cost of the massage.

Through various means, an investigation ensues, and eventually criminal charges are brought against the owner and/or employees of the establishment, and the business is shut down.

The time span between the beginning of the investigation and criminal charges? In a recent case involving a New Berlin massage business, more than two years. It's an investigative timeline that some feel is simply too long to effectively shut down an illicit business, brought on by bureaucratic requirements tied to state licensing.

Wisconsin State Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin) is among those who would like that to change.

"Massage parlor's therapists are all state-licensed and so there is some uncertainty as to just what a local municipality can do to take action when they find there is some illicit activity taking place," Sanfelippo said, noting the spread of criminal complaints regionally in recent years. "So, obviously, this is a problem that is proliferating, and it's got me greatly concerned."

Recent cases

Sanfelippo himself entered the political fray at the request of officials in his native West Allis after authorities there conducted a 2017 investigation that revealed multiple violations at two local massage businesses.

In that case, following undercover investigations, a police special investigation unit arrested six people — four people at the Asian Massage Parlor, 1442 S. 92nd St., and two at the Bonnie Massage Parlor, 11300 W. Greenfield Ave.

In Waukesha, a similar investigation uncovered prostitution-related activities at three massage parlors — Sweet Thai Massage, 127 W. Sunset Drive; Far East Healing Spa, 1405 Summit Ave.; and Lilac Massage, 2442 N. Grandview Blvd. — that occurred over several months prior to December 2016. Four women were arrested that month by Waukesha police, who said their primary concern was closing down those businesses to stem the illicit activities.

One year earlier, charges were filed in connection with alleged human trafficking and prostitution at four area massage businesses owned by a Franklin man. Police from three south suburban departments and Homeland Security moved in on four massage parlors in St. Francis, Franklin, Greenfield and Hales Corners.

So by the time charges were filed Feb. 15 of this year against a woman who operated Asian Massage and Flexology in Sanfelippo's current hometown of New Berlin, the fourth-term state legislator had already seen enough examples close to home to prompt an effort to create new legislation that could be used as a tool by local municipalities.

Time factor

 

At least from his perspective, Sanfelippo believes the trouble municipalities have in exposing such operations quickly enough is a factor in why so many cases happen in the first place.

Under state law, massage therapists licensed by the state must complete an approved educational program. The state can, and does, revoke licenses based on illicit activities, but not instantly, after allegations come to light, Sanfelippo said.

The process "can take months, even years," he noted, adding that disreputable operators can use that delay to their advantage.

"The people who are trying to game the system, they have this down to a science, and they know what they're doing," Sanfelippo said. "So if they do get caught, what's happening now is they'll shut down and reopen in a different location with a different owner, so they'll have a different name, and they'll be back up and running right away, even quicker than a state investigation process can even get launched."

Legislative approach

Under legislation, similar to a bill Sanfelippo sponsored in 2018, but which did not advance before the session ended, municipalities would gain an advantage.

"A local jurisdiction (would have) the authority to create ordinances that govern the business operations of these types of facilities and they can create a fine schedule that they could enforce," said Sanfelippo, who intends to introduce the legislation along with 1st District State Sen. André Jacque early in the 2019 session. "If they catch (a massage business) doing an illegal activity, they don't have to wait for the state to go through its entire investigatory process."

The legislation wouldn't necessarily give municipalities carte blanche approval to shut down such businesses instantly, but by bringing action at the local level, cities, villages and towns would force business owners into a courtroom more quickly.

"If they catch somebody doing something wrong, they can create a fine, right? Give them a municipal citation, haul them into municipal court, and start exerting all sorts of pressure at the local level to get these places shut down," Sanfelippo said. "And that would be a simultaneous effort to what would happen at the state level, as far as getting their state licenses pulled."

The Waukesha Police Department, which spent unaccounted hours in its investigation into illicit activity at three massage parlors in 2016, said any help from the state would be welcome to make law enforcement's job more effective.

"The Waukesha Police Department fully supports all legislation that provides additional tools to combat illegal activities at massage parlors," Capt. Dan Baumann said on behalf of the department. "Moreover, (it welcomes legislation) to curb any activity that could promote human trafficking."