Executive Summary
- Brian Hopkins pleaded not guilty to a felony count of keeping a place of prostitution.
- Three co-defendants facing human trafficking charges had motions to dismiss denied by the court.
- The investigation began in 2020 following tips regarding commercial sexual acts at the Franklin club.
- The City of Franklin is considering a review of the establishment’s business licenses.
An employee of the On The Border Gentlemen’s Club in Franklin, Wisconsin, has entered a not guilty plea to charges stemming from a multi-year human trafficking investigation, while three co-defendants recently had their motions to dismiss charges denied by the court. The legal proceedings follow a series of arrests executed in December, concluding an inquiry that involved federal and local law enforcement agencies.
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began in 2020 after law enforcement received information alleging that employers at the club “were benefiting from commercial sexual acts.” Authorities state that the allegations include victims performing sex acts in VIP lounges within the establishment. The probe was conducted by a task force including the FBI, the IRS, and police departments from Milwaukee, Franklin, and Oak Creek.
Court records indicate that Brian Hopkins, 50, of Oak Creek, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of keeping a place of prostitution. In a statement released on January 1, the founders and management of On The Border confirmed that Hopkins was the only arrested individual employed by the club and noted that his employment was terminated on December 22.
Three other individuals—Jimmy L. Durant Jr. III, Dantavia Vernard Rule, and Maurice Russell, all 31-year-old residents of Milwaukee—face extensive felony charges. Prosecutors have charged Durant with four counts of human trafficking, while Russell faces two counts of receiving compensation for human trafficking. Rule faces the most severe litany of charges, including two counts of human trafficking, false imprisonment, strangulation/suffocation, intimidating a victim of domestic abuse, and battery. All three defendants filed motions to have some or all charges dismissed, which the court subsequently denied.
In response to the charges, On The Border management issued a statement pledging full cooperation with investigators. The business announced it is collaborating with an industrial and organizational psychology firm to implement new trafficking awareness and prevention programs. Meanwhile, the City of Franklin issued a statement noting that municipal officials may review business licenses related to the establishment in light of the arrests.
Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Oversight
As the case moves toward pretrial conferences scheduled for late January, the judicial process will focus on the evidentiary basis for the serious felonies alleged against the defendants. Beyond the criminal court, the involvement of municipal authorities suggests that the establishment faces potential administrative scrutiny regarding its licensure, independent of the criminal verdicts. It is important to note that all individuals named in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
