Kevin Jenkins

kevin@thespectrum.com

A St. George insurance business owner and former president of the Exchange Club's St. George chapter was arrested Wednesday on charges he operates massage parlors that have unlicensed Asian employees who provide sexual services, and that he sought to influence his employees to provide him sexual favors.

Brett Allan Labrum, 48, of Washington City faces one felony charge of forcible sexual abuse and 15 misdemeanors that include multiple counts of practicing a massage business without a license, sexual solicitation and lewdness.

A probable cause statement filed in 5th District Court by a St. George Police investigator states Labrum was identified as the owner of two Dixie Massage locations in St. George and Washington City. The offices were the subject of an unlicensed massage and prostitution police sting that netted arrests Jan. 10 at five local businesses that also included Japan Massage, Golden Coast Massage and Massage Therapy -- businesses distinctive because they had Chinese employees who spoke little or no English and, in at least some cases, lived on the business premises.

The arrests sparked community concerns about the possible presence of international human trafficking operations in Southern Utah, although federal prosecutors have not filed charges of that nature as a result of the investigations.

The police report states Labrum's vehicle was seen frequenting the two Dixie Massage locations during an investigation that began in June of last year, and a court-approved GPS monitor attached to his vehicle showed it "visited both massage parlor locations almost daily with numerous times the vehicle frequented the locations multiple times a day."

The report states Labrum told an undercover officer he was in charge of setting up the massage appointments. During official questioning that occurred later, after the Jan. 10 arrests, he acknowledged he had bought the two offices last year.

Labrum also identified himself as a part-owner in a St. George insurance business where he works as an agent, and currently serves as a board member of the Exchange Club in which he was previously the president. His Exchange Club involvement has given him an opportunity to interact with a wide spectrum of members of the community in fulfilling the organization's goals.

The Exchange Club is a non-profit service organization with local priorities for providing scholarships and assistance to underprivileged residents, while also advancing the national organization's project to prevent child abuse.

The organization's board issued a statement Friday afternoon, acknowledging Labrum's benevolent efforts as well as his right to be considered "innocent until proven guilty."

"The Exchange Club of St. George and its board of directors were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the recent charges and allegations brought against one of our fellow board members and friends, Brett Labrum," it states. "Brett has been an exemplary member of the St. George Exchange Club for over five years and has contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to the many projects the club conducts within the community. The allegations brought against Brett stand in stark contrast to the man we have all come to know and love."

The police report states that during questioning Labrum acknowledged operating the Dixie Massage businesses and scheduling all appointments for four Asian employees he knew were not licensed to practice massage under state business regulations. Utilities and rental contracts were also in his name.

Labrum denied knowing his employees were allegedly providing sex acts, however.

Update: 7 women arrested in massage-prostitution sting

The report notes that Labrum appeared "very calm and relaxed" during the questioning but acknowledged the police investigation could adversely affect his family, his business and his position at church.

The report also states that while officers were out of the room Labrum could be heard holding a conversation with himself in which he allegedly said, "Oh boy Brett. What am I doing?" and "Just tell the truth. When he comes, just insurance," which the investigators interpreted as a sign Labrum may have been "struggling with himself deciding if he should be honest or not."

Dixie Massage had a history of advertising for 40-year-old-plus masseuses through online Chinese employment sites, and in sexually oriented adult websites such as Backpage.com and Bodyrubhistory.com. Law enforcement officers across the country have used the websites to begin investigations of prostitution activities, but Backpage.com shut down its adult section last month amid a Senate subcommittee inquiry that accused the company of covering up evidence of sex trafficking by selectively editing the wording of its ads.

Massage arrests spark concerns about human trafficking

The website's officers refused a call to testify before Congress, and a spokesman for the company said the adult site instead was replaced with a red "censored" sign that protests what it calls "unconstitutional government censorship."

Although "multiple" undercover officers had posed as clients seeking body massages at the business, negotiating sex acts in exchange for money but then declining to participate in them, the investigators decided not to arrest Labrum initially as they continued their review of various electronic devices seized through a search warrant in January.

After interviewing two unidentified female "victims" who were employed at Dixie Massage since before Labrum bought the business in September, the investigators developed information that Labrum had been a client at both of the business's locations since early 2016 and that he allegedly tried to get the women to perform a sexual act on him, colloquially known as "a happy ending," before buying the business.

The first alleged victim stated she declined Labrum's request and that Labrum instead masturbated in front of her. The second alleged victim stated Labrum grabbed her and forcefully started to act out the sexual behavior but she pulled away. She also claimed that after Labrum bought the business he decided to teach her how to give a massage but that she jumped away after he allegedly attempted to touch her sexually, and that he then exposed himself while masturbating. The woman stated she felt like she couldn't leave, however, because Labrum was the business owner.

Labrum is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday. The seven women arrested at the different parlors on charges of practicing massage without a license and, in some cases, sexual solicitation, have varying procedural court dates scheduled, including Dixie Massage employees Dong Ju Jin, 46, Feng Fang Li, 46, and Geman Li, 35.

Follow reporter Kevin Jenkins on Twitter, @SpectrumJenkins. Contact him at 435-674-6253.