MILWAUKEE — The owners of the now defunct “On the Border” gentleman’s club in Franklin plead not guilty to the charge of keeping a place of prostitution.
Through their attorney Michael Levine, HB&H LLC entered the plea on August 5 during their arraignment. The company, whose primary owner is listed as Gerald Hay, faces one felony count as a result of a five-year investigation by police into allegations that the club was a location for prostitution, human trafficking, and drug use.
The club’s former general manager Brian Hopkins also faces one felony charge of keeping a place of prostitution after prosecutors allege that he “was performing acts… includ[ing] hiring and/or rehiring of dancers for the club, which was one of his responsibilities in his employment. He did this knowing they were engaging in acts of prostitution, likely as victims of human trafficking”.
Court documents obtained by 620 WTMJ show that the investigation found that Hopkins’ actions were “not done for personal reasons alone, but to benefit the club as well by hiring performers; as such, this was directly related to his employment as the general manager of the club”.
In addition to Hopkins, three other men — Jimmy Durant Jr. III, Dantavia Rule, Maurice Russell — each face multiple felonies including human trafficking, 2nd degree sexual assault, battery, disorderly conduct, false imprisonment, and receiving compensation for human trafficking in connection to the activity at On the Border.
The Franklin Common Council revoked the strip club’s liquor, entertainment/amusement, and cigarette sold by machine licenses in July, after results of the investigation showed the alleged criminal activity at the location dated back to 2018. Operations at the gentleman’s club ended on July 17.
The owners of HB&H LLC are due back in court for a scheduling conference in October. If convicted, they could face up to six years in prison.
