A massage therapist who defended his actions during a massage by arguing he most likely was under the influence of drugs at the time has agreed to surrender his license.
The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy recently charged Phelan Hudson of Ames with failing to exercise the expected degree of care for practitioners, and with habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs.
According to the board, two separate complaints were filed against Hudson in 2023. During the subsequent investigation, the board says, it was determined that Hudson inappropriately draped a client in preparation for a massage and then “made physical contact with parts with the client’s body that were not typical of the client’s expectations.”
In addition, the board alleges that during its 2023 investigation, it was determined that in 2019, a year after he was first licensed by the board, another of Hudson’s clients had filed a complaint alleging Hudson had been falling asleep during a massage.
In response to that allegation, the board says, Hudson disclosed, in “full transparency,” that there was a strong possibility he was under the influence of drugs while at work and giving massages.
In order to resolve the case, Hudson recently agreed to surrender his license.
Other recent actions against state-licensed massage therapists include:
— Meifang Pan of Sioux City, who was the subject of a 2024 complaint to the board. The board alleges that during its investigation of the complaint, it was determined that Pan owned and operated Asian Herbal Massage at 3130 Floyd Boulevard in Sioux City where, in August 2023, local police investigated reports of prostitution and other illegal activity.
Court records indicate that an undercover officer was offered sex by an unlicensed massage therapist at Asian Herbal Massage, after which police seized $4,416 in cash from the business, as well as lubricants and condoms. The employee was charged with prostitution, according to court records and board documents, but the disposition of that case is unclear.
According to police, at least two other employees of Pan’s business were also offering massages without a valid license. Pan allegedly admitted she was aware her workers were not properly licensed and was charged with aiding and abetting, a serious misdemeanor. She later received a deferred judgment in the case, according to board records.
The board recently charged Pan with knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, or advising a person to unlawfully practice as a massage therapist; permitting an unlicensed employee to perform massages; negligence in the practice of the profession; and being convicted of an offense that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the profession.
To settle the case, Pan recently agreed to voluntarily surrender her license.
— Katisha Knight of Ames, who was charged with practicing massage at some undefined point between 2014 and 2025 while her license was on “inactive” status. The board alleges that in January 2025, it received three complaints against Knight related to allegations she was practicing massage therapy without an active license – which she allegedly admitted. She was then charged with representing herself as a massage therapist while her license was inactive, suspended or revoked.
To settle the charges against her, Knight recently agreed to pay a $300 civil penalty. Her license has been reactivated by the board.
