Illicit Massage Parlor Proprietor Pleads Guilty To Promoting Prostitution in Wenatchee - Source ONE News

[mnews]

Dominick Bonny is a columnist and contributor to Source ONE News

Linhui Yan, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of promoting prostitution in the second degree in Chelan County Superior Court on Monday morning. In exchange, the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommended the state drop two other charges related to money laundering and “leading organized crime” as well as the case against Yan’s wife and co-proprietor Yan Yang, 45.

“I love United States,” Yan said through an interpreter before being sentenced.

Yan and Yang have been evading authorities since Feb. 28, 2023, after members of the Columbia River Drug Task Force raided two Wenatchee massage parlors, one at 412 N. Mission Street and the other located at 328 N. Mission Street. The locations were being used as fronts for prostitution, and you can read the details of those investigations here.

Authorities believe the pair were able to flee because news of the imminent raids was released by NCWlife TV before task force members were able to initiate the operation and make arrests.

Yan was arrested in Pierce County in March after returning to the country from China, according to court documents. But Yang was able to get away, again.

Yan entered an Alford plea, which is a legal option in Washington state that allows the defendant to plead guilty to a crime without admitting guilt. Promoting prostitution in the second degree is a class C felony.

It’s his first felony conviction, although he has been arrested on similar charges in Louisiana in 2019 – along with 10 women. That misdemeanor charge was later dismissed after he paid court costs.

Before sentencing Yan, Chelan County Superior Court Judge Robert Jourdan said he loves the United States too.

“And I love the laws of the United States,” he said. “And we expect people to follow the laws of the United States.”

Jourdan ordered that Yan’s license to operate massage businesses be revoked for five years, and said he would make that order for longer if he could.

In the sentencing, Jourdan followed the recommendations presented by Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Valaas on behalf of the state and sentenced Yan to three months in jail and $700 in fines – $500 going to the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund and the other $200 toward legal fees.

Since Yan has already served nine months in jail, he will be released and receive a credit for the additional six months he spent behind bars, Valaas said.

This is an article by Source ONE News Contributor Dominick Bonny. You can read more of his work here.