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Massage industry wants crackdown
Story By: James Jarman
Source: KOAA
Colorado Springs Published 355 day(s) ago
Some new developments in our Investigation of massage parlor prostitution and human trafficking in El Paso County.
The County Commissioners announced they're going to look into the problem. That's good news for massage industry leaders. They want the county and state to help shut down the illegal operations.
As we've reported, our hidden camera investigation was sparked by anonymous tips from sources inside the massage industry. Our undercover employee went to four Asian massage parlors we were tipped off about and was offered sex for money at all four.
American Massage Therapy Association past president and current board member Bob McAtee says the problem's been an industry sore spot for too long. "Going to the yellow pages, it's really hard to tell a legitimate therapist from a front for prostitution," he said.
He and those at the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy say the City of Colorado Springs is on the right track, with the toughest licensing requirements in the state. But as we found, just across the city border there's no regulation.
"It's ironic that just right outside city limits you have these massage parlors taking place," said Roger Patrizio, Massage Therapy Institute director, "We'd love to see El Paso County step in and maybe adopt the same kind of regulations and massage requirements to be a licensed massage therapist and all they would need to do is match what Colorado Springs has already put into place."
McAtee agrees and says the Massage Therapy Association wants to take it a step further with state regulation.
"It's just important to realize that it's a much broader and deeper issue than a couple of girls making a little extra money on the side," he said. "This whole issue of slavery happening in the U.S., right in our community is huge and really needs to be addressed and not swept under the rug."
