(WWJ) — Charges have been filed against several people accused of running an alleged international human trafficking ring involving commercial sex at a number of illicit massage parlors across Metro Detroit.
Announcing the charges Friday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the alleged trafficking ring is “as large as any we’ve uncovered in the State of Michigan.”
The investigation began this summer and culminated Friday with the arrests of three people 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.
The AG’s office said seven to nine women, of Chinese and Korean origin, were liberated from the trafficking ring following Friday’s operation. Officials said while there is a language barrier, the victims are coopering with investigators.
Local police departments, the Michigan State Police and Homeland Securities Investigations all worked together on the investigation.
Jingyu Jin, a 45-year-old Chinese national, is alleged to be the head of the trafficking ring, according to the AG’s office. Jin has been charged with six felonies, including conducting and conspiracy to conduct a criminal enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, accepting earnings from prostitution, transportation for the purposes of prostitution and money laundering.
Jon Villasurda of Clinton Township and Huazi Piao were also arrested Friday. They were each charged with conducting and conspiracy to conduct a criminal enterprise, while Villasurda was also charged with transportation in service of prostitution.
Piao, whose age and origin were not disclosed in a release from the AG’s office, was also charged with accepting earnings from prostitution, money laundering and two counts of keeping a house of prostitution.
The AG’s office also filed charges against Oumar Lougue, a 53-year-old non-citizen of West Africa, and 59-year-old Ming Li, an undocumented immigrant.
Both were charged with conducting and conspiracy to conduct a criminal enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution (two counts for Li). Lougue was also charged with accepting earnings from prostitution.
Separately, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced 70-year-old Michael Navoy of Allen Park was also arrested Friday and will be charged with keeping a house of prostitution, human trafficking — forced labor, accepting earnings of a prostitute and using a computer to commit a crime. He has not been arraigned.
Navoy allegedly operated out of a home in Southgate. That investigation began this summer in Maumee, Ohio, and helped lead to the discovery of the illegal massage parlors.