AG: 4 massage parlors raided in one of Michigan’s largest alleged sex trafficking rings - Yahoo! Voices

[Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press]

Four massage parlors were raided in Wayne and Macomb counties Friday and several people were charged in connection with an alleged international human trafficking ring, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

In a news release, Nessel's office called the suspected operation "among the largest ever uncovered in the state." Several individuals are accused of operating illicit massage parlors in Detroit, St. Clair Shores and Sterling Heights and are now facing multiple felony charges. Two homes were also searched by law enforcement on Friday.

According to the attorney general's office:

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  Jingyu Jin, a 45-year-old Chinese national, is alleged to be the leader of the operation. She was arrested and charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy, accepting earnings from prostitution, transportation for prostitution, money laundering and keeping a house of prostitution.
  
  
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  Huazi Piao, a 60-year-old woman from China, was arrested and faces charges of conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy, accepting earnings from prostitution, money laundering and two counts of keeping a house of prostitution.
  
  
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  Jon Villasurda, a 60-year-old Clinton Township resident and American citizen, was arrested and is charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy and transportation in service of prostitution.
  
  
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  Michael Navoy, a 70-year-old Allen Park man, was arrested by state police and charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office with two counts of human trafficking, including forced labor and forced labor resulting in commercial sexual activity, accepting earnings from a prostitute, using a computer to commit forced labor resulting in commercial sexual activity and keeping a house of prostitution. Navoy is accused of operating out of a Southgate home he owned.
  
  
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  Oumar Lougue, a 53-year-old non-citizen from West Africa, faces charges of conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy, accepting earnings from prostitution and keeping a house of prostitution. He has not been arrested yet and is believed to be out of the country.
  
  
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  Ming Li, a 59-year-old undocumented immigrant, is charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy and two counts of keeping a house of prostitution. Efforts are still underway to arrest Li as well.
  

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"In the course of our searches of the four massage parlors today, we liberated seven to nine women of Chinese and Korean nationality," Nessel said during a Friday news conference. "The reason I'm saying seven to nine is because it's not clear to us yet who is a victim and who might be a criminal defendant."

The investigation began over the summer and included the federal Homeland Securities Investigations, Michigan State Police, the St. Clair Shores Police Department, the Sterling Heights Police Department and the Clinton Township Police Department.

Prosecutor: Waterford man gave human trafficking victims crack to keep them up for days

The raided massage parlors included:


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  Magic Health Spa at Eight Mile and Lahser roads in Detroit
  
  
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  8 Star on Eight Mile near I-75 in Detroit
  
  
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  111 Healing Studio on Harper Avenue near 12 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores
  
  
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  AM Healing Studio near the intersection of Metro Parkway and Mound Road in Sterling Heights
  

The investigation is ongoing as law enforcement believes the ring is part of a larger criminal syndicate.

"These charges and this operation make it clear that Michigan will be no harbor for the vile trafficking trade for forced labor, sexual or otherwise," Nessel said.

Individuals who are victims of human trafficking or suspect someone may need assistance can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text 233733.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: AG: Metro Detroit massage parlors raided in alleged trafficking ring