A 44-year-old woman from Livonia has been arrested and charged in connection with what appears to be a human trafficking operation that spanned across Oakland and Wayne counties. Identified as Zixuan Wan, she was allegedly operating three massage businesses, which doubled as the site for the illicit activities, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
According to the Farmington Hills Police Department, the arrest of Wan came after a multi-month investigation that led to the discovery of human trafficking victims who were residing inside the massage businesses located in Farmington Hills, Westland, and Commerce Township. Investigators found firearms and about $140,000 in cash, as documented by CBS News Detroit. Several victims were brought to Common Ground and CARE House in Oakland County to receive necessary care and services.
The charges against Wan include one count of human trafficking enterprise resulting in commercial sexual activity, one count of human trafficking enterprise, and one count of keeping a house of prostitution. "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," Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott said in a statement, a sentiment echoed in reports by both CBS News Detroit and neighboring news outlets.
ClickOnDetroit reports that four women from China, who spoke little English, were rescued after being forced to work in poor conditions from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, with little or no pay. They were allegedly made to give massages to mostly male customers and were denied basic needs like transportation, medical care, and contact with loved ones. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald called the case both labor and sex trafficking, highlighting the exploitation of the victims' vulnerability. "Finally, I want to just say, to the customers of these illicit massage parlors, that a sexual massage may seem like a victimless crime or a consensual transactional act, but for trafficking victims, they do not have the ability to consent" McDonald stated, highlighting the role of customers in perpetuating such crimes, as per ClickOnDetroit.
Wan has been arraigned and entered a not guilty plea, receiving a $100,000 personal bond with conditions including wearing a GPS tether and surrendering her passport, as reported by CBS News Detroit. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 21. The investigation remains ongoing, and more charges could be filed. The Farmington Hills Police Department encouraged the community to report any unusual activities, asserting their commitment to rigorous training and coordination with other agencies to combat such exploitation, a stance supported by Hometownlife coverage of the department's actions following trafficking detection training provided by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
