Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

Massage parlor owners plead guilty

All four defendants in the illegal prostitution ring run through Johnson County massage parlors have pleaded guilty in federal court, according to a statement Thursday from U.S. Attorney John F. Wood.

Ling Xu, 46; Zhong Yan Liu, 36; and Cheng Tang, 22, who operated China Rose Massage and China Village Massage in Overland Park, pleaded guilty Thursday to bringing women from China to the United States to serve as prostitutes.

They also pleaded guilty to money laundering for wiring more than $500,000 in proceeds from their prostitution businesses to China.

The fourth defendant, Hogmei Madole, who operated Asian Touch Massage, 122 S. Clairborne Road, pleaded guilty in April.

They were arrested in May 2007 during raids that were the result of an 18-month FBI probe. Police departments from Olathe, Overland Park, Mission and Lenexa assisted the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in serving 16 search warrants to 13 business and three residences in the county.

In addition to the parlor owners, 11 workers were taken into custody, but only six were charged. Four of the cases have been dismissed.

One man was taken into custody from Asian Touch for patronizing prostitution. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

In February, Olathe amended its massage ordinance to include nationwide criminal background checks for new applicants. Massage parlor owners in business since 1996 — the last time the ordinance was amended — won't be subject to that background check, but all owners are subject to an annual review by the Olathe Police Department.

Under federal statutes, Xu, Liu and Tang each face up to 40 years in prison without parole. Madole faces up to 20 years in prison without parole.

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