Kansas City, Mo. ? A Chinese national has pleaded guilty to helping operate two Asian massage parlors that were fronts for prostitution.

Wei Li Pang, 37, pleaded Thursday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City to one count of causing individuals to travel in interstate commerce for sexual purposes.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop three similar charges.

Four other owners and operators of Asian massage parlors in the Kansas City suburb of Johnson County, Kan., already have pleaded guilty in separate cases resulting from the investigation.

Pang, who also goes by Linda, lives in Phoenix but traveled occasionally to a house her husband rented in Johnson County. She was the co-owner and operator of Asian Massage Health Center in Olathe, Kan., and the owner and operator of Oriental Massage in Mission, Kan.

Prosecutors alleged that she transported Asian women to Kansas City and housed them inside the massage parlors, where they worked 14 hours a day, seven days a week. Pang also is accused of purchasing Saran Wrap, which was used instead of condoms to prevent law enforcement from detecting the prostitution activities.

Her attorney Bruce C. Houdek said his client’s husband brought her into the business and asked her to assist with activities such as placing ads for workers.

“He has absconded and the government can’t find him,” Houdek said.

The plea requires Pang to forfeit $95,000 in proceeds from the crime. Prosecutors said the money was seized from a Commerce Bank account after she attempted to have it wired to China. Pang also agreed to forfeit all cash and money seized by the FBI during the execution of federal search warrants at her home and businesses in May 2007.

Pang, who is a legal resident alien in the United States, faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine of up to $250,000 and an order of restitution to her victims. Her sentencing date has not been scheduled.

Houdek said he hoped the judge would consider probation or home detention for his client, who has a 3 1/2-year-old daughter and no other relatives living in the United States to care for the girl. He also said Pang suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma.