Massage Parlor Owner Sentenced For Harboring, Obstruction Of Justice

WICHITA, KAN. - The former owner of a Wichita massage parlor was sentenced Friday to five years in federal prison for harboring an undocumented Chinese woman and threatening to harm a law enforcement officer, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Gary H. Kidgell, 45, Waltham, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of harboring an alien who was illegally in the United States and one count of attempted obstruction of justice. In his plea, Kidgell admitted that in January 2011 he interviewed a Chinese woman to work at a massage parlor he owned in Wichita. Kidgell spoke to the woman through an interpreter because she did not speak English. He made the Chinese woman stay at his residence and pay rent while she was working at his massage parlor.

In January and February 2014 while Kidgell was in custody in the case he told other inmates at the Butler County Jail that he intended to harm a law enforcement officer who investigated the case unless his case was resolved the way he wanted.

Co-defendants include:
Yan Zhang, 50, Wichita, Kan., who was sentenced to time served and five years supervised release.
Xinqing Tian, 45, 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.