(WWJ) A woman from China could spend up to two decades in prison after she was convicted for running a sex-for-sale operation at massage parlors in the Metro Detroit area.
The Michigan Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday that 61-year-old Huazi Piao, a Chinese national, was sentenced by 3rd Circuit Court Judge Tracy Green to 40 months to 20 years’ in prison for "operating commercial sex operations at illicit massage parlors."
Piao pled guilty in September to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, after initially being charged by the Attorney General in December 2024.
The AG's office said its investigation began on the summer of 2024 into an alleged international human trafficking ring. The probe involved multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Michigan State Police, and the St. Clair Shores Police Department.
The investigation culminated last December with the arrests of Piao and two others, as authorities raided four purported massage parlors: Magic Health Spa and 8 Star — both on 8 Mile Road in Detroit — as well as 111 Healing Studio on Harper in St. Clair Shores and AM Healing Studio near Metro Parkway and Mound in Sterling Heights.
At the time of the busts, Nessel said the alleged trafficking ring was “as large as any we’ve uncovered in the State of Michigan.”
“I would like to thank the prosecutors from my department and our law enforcement partners whose dedication was instrumental in securing this conviction and delivering justice for human trafficking survivors,” said Nessel in a statement, following Piao's conviction. “My office remains committed to combating human trafficking and shutting down the criminal enterprises that perpetuate it.”
Victims of human trafficking or those who have identified someone they think may need help can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text 233733. This is a national, toll-free hotline that is available to answer calls, texts, and chats from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. All calls are confidential. People who live in the State of Michigan who suspect human trafficking can also call 855-MICH-TIP for assistance.