South Florida massage therapists investigate illegal parlors [Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.]

Jan. 08--A proliferation of illegal massage parlors in South Florida has prompted some legitimate massage therapists to do their own detective work.

Broward County members of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association have started working with local and federal investigators in recent months to crack down on illegal parlors and unlicensed masseurs. They want bring an end to massages with "happy endings" and shut down brothels in disguise.

Members are tired of seeing their profession dragged through the mud, said John Romano, president of the Broward County chapter.

"It makes what we do less respectable," said Romano, who owns a massage and aromatherapy business in Hollywood. "There are many of us out there trying to make a decent living."

The association's Palm Beach County chapter urges therapists to report unlicensed masseurs to the state Department of Health's Division of Medical Quality Assurance.

Although prostitution is largely to blame for Florida's underground massage industry, many unlicensed therapists just want to make money without paying for training, said Ralph Russ, state executive director of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association.

A year-long course usually costs at least $10,000, and the state license costs $155. Customers who don't check for a license are taking a huge risk, Russ said.

"It could even be fatal," he said. Pressure in the wrong place could dislodge a blood clot into the heart or brain. Or it could collapse a vein. Bones have broken, he said.

"Then what are you going to do?" Russ asked. "You can't sue someone who doesn't have [liability] insurance."

In November, the Broward County chapter of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association created a committee to target the unlicensed and illegal activity and report it to police. They check for state license numbers on storefronts offering "full body" or "Asian" massages and scour online classifieds for listings missing the required license number.

The group has turned over suspicious cases to police, and is working with Fort Lauderdale Police Vice Squad detectives and federal agents in a human trafficking case that is still under investigation.

It's an epidemic not only in Fort Lauderdale, but across the country, said Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Travis Mandell.

"With the advent of BackPage.com and these online classifieds sites, you can go on there and find hundreds, if not thousands of people advertising massages," Mandell said.

The Florida Department of Health, which regulates the massage industry, investigated more complaints of unlicensed massage therapists and establishments last year than in the previous two years. There were 363 investigations in fiscal year 2010-2011, compared to 335 investigations in 2009-2010 and 343 in 2008-2009, state records show.

As of June, Florida had 30,323 licensed massage therapists

The Florida State Massage Therapy Association sends a stack of complaints about illegal activity nearly every week to state health officials, said R. Scott Hartsfield, legislative chairman for the organization.

"These are the kind of people we don't want in our profession," he said.

[email protected], 561-243-6609 or Twitter @AlexiaCampbell

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