Wichita Massage Parlor Owner Charged in Sex Trafficking Case

WICHITA, KAN. – The owner of a Wichita massage parlor was charged Friday in federal court with harboring a Chinese woman who worked as a prostitute, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Samir F. Elias, 60, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of transporting an alien who is in the United States unlawfully, one count of harboring an alien who is in the United States unlawfully, one count of harboring an alien for the purpose for prostitution and two counts of money laundering.

The charges allege Elias was the owner of GiGi’s Elite Massage, which operated at 357 N. Hillside in Wichita after moving from a previous location at 6611 E. Central. Elias employed a Chinese woman who used the name Angel.  An undercover vice detective with the Wichita Police Department arrested the woman after she offered to perform sexual services during a massage.

Investigators learned that:

• The woman lived at the massage parlor or at times at Elias’ home.

• She usually worked seven days a week.

• She had no formal training in how to give a massage.

• Patrons paid $40 for 30 minutes and $60 for an hour of massage. She paid Elias $10 of the fee for the $40 massage and $20 of the fee for the $60 massage. She was allowed to keep her tips.

• The woman was convicted in Wichita municipal court on a charge of sale of sexual relations. She is appealing the conviction.If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on counts 1, 2 and 3, and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up $500,000 on counts 4 and 5.

• The Wichita Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.