In a recent announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, 61-year-old Huazi Piao, a Chinese national, has pled guilty to operating illegal massage parlors in Wayne County, which were fronts for commercial sex operations. This plea comes after a comprehensive investigation launched in the summer of 2023 into a suspected international human trafficking ring, involving a collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies.
The case against Piao, who faces a 20-year felony charge for conducting a criminal enterprise, was built in part by Homeland Security Investigations, Michigan State Police, and the St. Clair Shores Police Department. In her statement regarding the conviction, Attorney General Nessel emphasized her commitment "to combating human trafficking and shutting down the criminal enterprises that perpetuate it," as per the press release.
Piao is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7 in the 3rd Circuit Court by Judge Tracy Green. The conviction stems from Attorney General Nessel’s human trafficking initiative, which continues to actively pursue similar cases.
Vital resources for victims of human trafficking or those suspecting illicit activity have been made readily available by the Attorney General's office. Anyone in need of support or reporting can directly reach out to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center by calling 888-373-7888 or by texting 233733, a service that promises to be available 24/7 every day of the year and assures confidentiality for all callers. Michigan residents have the additional option of contacting 855-MICH-TIP to report their suspicions or to also seek assistance. For more details on Attorney General Nessel’s human trafficking initiatives, the public can visit the Attorney General’s website.
