WICHITA, KAN. - The former owner of a Wichita massage parlor pleaded guilty Thursday to 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.
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.
Kidgell is set for sentencing Aug. 1. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence within in the range of 51 months and 63 months in federal prison.
Co-defendants include:
Yan Zhang, 50, Wichita, Kan., who is awaiting trial.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
