A human trafficking organization operating in multiple Metro Detroit communities has led to the arraignment of two women from Farmington Hills and Southfield.
A six-month investigation led by West Bloomfield police also turned up evidence of a money-laundering operation.
West Bloomfield police identified two individuals who were arrested and charged in connection with the case on Monday, marking the end of a six-month investigation into human trafficking.
Chunxiu Xu, 46, of Farmington Hills, and Runping Huang, 61, of Southfield, were both charged with running a human trafficking organization and were arraigned in different district courts.
Police suspect both of operating the criminal network out of Novi, Farmington, and Livonia, among other locations.
Detectives discovered that women had been brought into Michigan from out of state and forced to conduct commercial sex acts in massage parlours, according to a news release from West Bloomfield police.
Police departments Novi, Farmington Hills, Shelby Township, and other Oakland County organizations, including the Care House, provided assistance during the investigation, which was supervised by the SONIC Task Force.
“Nobody wants this in their neighborhood,” said Cmdr. Kristie Gruenwald, Novi police. “Nobody wants any kind of crime in their neighborhood. It’s important for them to know that this is not, does not pose an active threat to the community and that the investigation was really targeted in scope.”
Two of the three suspects in the case were taken into custody by the police.
In the Novi District Court, Xu was accused of one count of human trafficking enterprise and transporting a person for prostitution.
Huang was charged with human trafficking enterprise, operating a business that caused harm or commercial sexual activity, prostitution—accepting money, and prostitution—transporting people in Southfield District Court.
Gruenwald stated that assistance is being given to the sufferers.
“We worked with nonprofit organizations and community groups to make sure (the victims) that they had any resources that they need, whether that be safe housing, financial or legal assistance, any type of counselling,” she explained. “And that’s what they are getting right now.”
A third suspect has been identified, according to West Bloomfield Police, although they did not elaborate.
