KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Overland Park woman faces federal charges for her role in an interstate prostitution ring that operated for several years in Johnson County.
Stephen McAllister, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, announced Monday that Chunqui Wu, 61, has been charged with “one count of transportation with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct,” according to a release. She is due in court this week.
According to a federal indictment, Wu owned or operated Alpha Massage and A-Plus Massage in Olathe as well as King Spa in Leawood.
An undercover confidential informant, working with federal investigators, contacted Wu about a job at her massage parlors.
“Wu made statements indicating she allowed her employees to perform sexual services for tips,” McAllister’s office said.
Additional undercover investigation confirmed that employees at Wu’s massage parlors offered customers sexual services.
Wu, who is scheduled to appear Dec. 20 for arraignment in federal court, was arrested at Kansas City International Airport when she arrived to pick up an undercover confidential source and take her back to Kansas to work in a massage parlor.
Wu could face up to 10 years in prison, if convicted.
She is connected to a multi-jurisdictional investigation that netted six other arrests last month.
The Olathe Police Department announced the results of an investigation into illicit activity at Johnson County massage parlors on Nov. 14.
Joseph Wilhoit, 65, of Overland Park also was arrested and charged with promoting sexual relations at A-Plus health.
Additionally, Philip W. Ward, 55, and Lifang Zhang, 56,of Olathe were arrested and charged with promoting sexual relations at Lotus flower Massage and Dream Massage, both in Olathe.
Ward is a former Johnson County sheriff’s sergeant.
Gibson, 61, of Lenexa, also was charged with one count of promoting sexual relations at Dream Massage in Olathe.
Finally, Chaoyong Jiang, 65, of Lenexa was arrested and charged with promoting sexual relations at Flower Spa in Olathe.
