Massage Parlor Manager Pleads GuiltyIn Federal Sex Trafficking Case

WICHITA, KAN. - The former manager of a Wichita massage parlor pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of transporting a woman from China to work as prostitute in Wichita, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Yan Zhang, 50, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. In her plea, she admitted that in 2009 she induced a Chinese woman to move to Wichita to work in a massage parlor and engage in prostitution.

In her plea, Zhang said she was married in 2004 to co-defendant Gary Kidgell. During the marriage, she worked at massage parlors in San Francisco and Phoenix, where she became familiar with the operation of massage parlors as fronts for prostitution. In 2009, she and Kidgell moved to Wichita to establish their own massage parlor. She worked giving massages and served as a manager because she was able to communicate with Chinese women who worked at the massage parlor.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 4. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of time served and five years supervised release.

Co-defendants are:
Gary Kidgell, who is set for sentencing Aug. 1.
Xinqing Tian, 44, who was sentenced to time served and two years supervised release.

Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.