'Effectively slavery.' Oakland County Prosecutor announces charges in human trafficking case - WXYZ 7 Action News Detroit

[WXYZ Web Team]

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has detailed charges in a human trafficking case involving massage parlors.

McDonald was joined at a Wednesday afternoon news conference by Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott.

RAW VIDEO: Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announces human trafficking charges

RAW VIDEO: Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announces human trafficking charges

McDonald says 44-year-old Zixuan Wan of Livonia has been charged with Human trafficking enterprise resulting in commercial sexual activity, human trafficking enterprise and keeping a house of prostitution.

The case involves four immigrant women who were required to live, virtually as prisoners, in massage parlors where they were forced to work seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving massages to customers. McDonald also says there are indications of sex crimes in this case.

"It's shocking to think of this kind of abuse that's taking place in our county, but the sad reality is that too many vulnerable people are, especially women, are exploited and abused by traffickers in places that are close to home," McDonald said. "While there's evidence the victims have been forced to participate in sex work, ... this case also highlights the problem of labor trafficking, which is, effectively, slavery."

Chief Piggot says the case was in October of 2024 when the department initiated new training focuses on human trafficking through the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.

That training led to an investigation beginning into the massage parlor at 13 Mile and Orchard Lake Road.

Its faded out awning, lack of signage, closed blinds and odd hours are just some of the clues that caused suspicion, not just by police but by neighbors too.

“I had been suspicious of them for a while,” said Toni Dreist, whose home in a neighboring subdivision backs up to the business. “I thought maybe drugs, drug money, money laundering, that's what I originally thought. Never would I have suspected human trafficking.”

Wan’s bank, home in Livonia and massage businesses in Farmington Hills, Commerce Township and Westland were all searched last week by police. Inside, they found four alleged victims of sex trafficking.

7 News Detroit visited a massage parlor in Westland, which shares an address and similar name to an LLC in Wan's name. Neighbors told us they saw police activity last week and a woman was brought out in handcuffs. They had long felt suspicious about the business. One neighbor said they recognized Wan in her mugshot.

“All the businesses owners kind of had a suspicion of the massage parlor being less than legit,” said the nearby business owner, who asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. “Clients never parked in front of the establishment, so kind of leads you to wonder what's really going on in there.”

The female victims, who McDonald said are from China, lived in the businesses. They were allegedly unable to leave and worked around the clock with almost entirely male clients. McDonald said they were "virtual prisoners" subjected to "appalling living conditions."

“You could see their clothes hang out to dry. You never seen the girls really leave, they were there almost all the time. 24/7 it seemed,” the Westland neighbor said. "It's sad to find out that you’re so close to that actual kind of activity going on.”

Police and prosecutors say the success of the investigation was thanks to recent training and a new way at investigating the cases, viewing the women involved more so as victims and less as suspects.

"The vast majority of women involved in the sex trade are victims, not criminals," McDonald said. "Merely listing these charges does not adequately describe the scale of abuse victims suffered in this case."

“The successful outcome of this investigation is the result of the strong partnerships that the Farmington Hills Police Department maintains with agencies throughout Oakland County and beyond,” Piggott said in a news release. “I’m continually impressed with the men and women of the Farmington Hills Police Department who are constantly seeking out training opportunities and bringing the skills learned back to the Department. These skills directly lead to law enforcement intervention rescuing these vulnerable women from further exploitation. Because of their excellent work and our collaboration with outside agencies, a dangerous human trafficker will be held accountable.”

Officials say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.