Colorado Springs police crack down on illicit massage businesses after KRDO13 investigation
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Two months after a KRDO13 investigation exposed that enforcement of Colorado Springs' massage business licensing law had stopped, police are once again inspecting businesses and finding violations.
The Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff's Office inspected 18 massage businesses during July and August, issuing 15 misdemeanor citations.
Of the 18 businesses inspected, only five were in full compliance. Three were operating without a license and another 10 were licensed but not following all licensing requirements.
The violations included having an unlicensed massage therapist on the premises, failing to display a license and allowing employees to live at the business.
One of the businesses inspected was a massage business on 8th Street that KRDO13 has previously investigated.
CSPD is not identifying the other locations inspected, telling KRDO13 Investigates it is withholding that information "to preserve the integrity of the judicial process for the criminal citations issued."
Years of KRDO13 Investigations
KRDO13 Investigates first exposed illicit massage businesses in Colorado Springs in 2019, finding businesses where sex was advertised for sale online.
Our reporting helped push the city to pass a massage business licensing ordinance, giving police another tool to investigate and shut down illicit massage businesses.
But this summer, KRDO13 Investigates discovered enforcement had stopped.
Our team found that CSPD issued 24 massage licensing citations in 2022 and two in 2023. Then, for more than two years, police issued none.
At the same time, our June investigation found sex was still being advertised for sale online at Colorado Springs massage businesses.
KRDO13 Investigates took the enforcement lapse directly to Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade.
In response, Mobolade directed CSPD to conduct periodic enforcement operations focused on suspected illicit massage businesses.
Two months later, those operations are happening.
CSPD Chief Adrian Vasquez said the inspections are intended to enforce licensing requirements while also allowing detectives to uncover more serious criminal activity.
"While there are massage businesses in our community that are legitimate and law-abiding, we must hold accountable those that operate illegally or fail to meet licensing requirements," Vasquez said. "These inspections help bring businesses into compliance while allowing our detectives to identify criminal activity that might otherwise remain hidden. We appreciate the responsible business owners who follow the law and help protect their employees, customers and our community."
Police said the massage business licensing ordinance gives law enforcement a way to assess businesses that may display indicators of prostitution, human trafficking or labor trafficking. Licensing inspections allow detectives to identify businesses that are not complying with industry standards and to screen for possible criminal activity.
Inspections cross city and county lines
The inspections took place in both Colorado Springs and unincorporated El Paso County.
El Paso County sheriff's deputies are permanently assigned to CSPD's Internet Crimes Against Children/Human Trafficking and Metro Division task forces. That allows the joint teams to work across jurisdictional lines in Colorado Springs, unincorporated areas and elsewhere in the county.
Massage businesses in unincorporated El Paso County are not governed by Colorado Springs' massage business licensing ordinance.
Instead, potential violations in the county fall under state law, which requires massage therapists to be properly licensed and establishes penalties for unauthorized practice.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal said the partnership allows the agencies to combine resources to protect potential victims and investigate criminal activity.
"Criminals who exploit legitimate businesses and prey upon vulnerable individuals have no place in our community," Roybal said. "Our agencies share a responsibility to protect victims, disrupt criminal activity, and ensure those who violate the law are held accountable. The strength of our partnership with the Colorado Springs Police Department allows us to combine our resources and expertise to address these concerns effectively and keep our communities safe."
CSPD said it will work with the city's licensing office to bring businesses into compliance or, if needed, revoke licenses.
Detectives will also continue conducting random licensing inspections.
KRDO13 Investigates will continue tracking the renewed enforcement and what happens to the businesses cited.
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