"Imprisoned Korean Women, Disguised as Massage Parlors"...Chinese Woman Sentenced for Running Largest Human Trafficking Ring

Chinese Nationals Ran Illegal Massage Parlors
Michigan Prosecutors: "Largest Sex Trafficking Ring in State History"

In the United States, a Chinese owner who operated a large-scale human trafficking and prostitution ring disguised as massage parlors—targeting Korean and Chinese women—has been sentenced to prison.

From the left, mugshots of accomplices Shu Ying Ding, Xiao Hong Ban, and Lori Kai. Malcom County Sheriff's Office

According to CBS on September 6 (local time), Judge Jennifer Faunce of the 16th Circuit Court in Macomb County, Michigan, sentenced Chinese national Jingyu Jin (age 46) to 40 months to 20 years in prison on September 3. Previously, in October last year, accomplice Huaji Piao was also sentenced to a similarly lengthy prison term in Wayne County for operating a separate illegal massage parlor.

The case dates back to December 2023, when the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office simultaneously raided spa businesses in Mount Clemens, Fraser, and Shelby Township in southeastern Michigan, as well as a residential property in Livonia and rooms at the MGM Casino Hotel in Detroit. During the initial crackdown, Xiao Hong Ban was arrested, and as the investigation progressed, key operating members of the organization were sequentially apprehended.

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Investigations revealed that the illegal prostitution organization operated by these individuals was based in massage parlors in Macomb County and Wayne County. According to the Michigan Prosecutor’s Office, Jin led the crimes by owning two illegal massage businesses: ‘111 Healing Studio’ in St. Clair Shores and ‘AM Healing Studio’ in Sterling Heights. Throughout this process, numerous women of Chinese and Korean nationality who were victims of the organization were dramatically rescued.

The victims were confined to the businesses with no means of transportation or stable housing and were forced to provide prostitution services to customers. Prosecutors reported that they did not even receive minimum wage, earning income solely from prostitution services and tips. It was confirmed that the substantial criminal proceeds generated by the organization were remitted overseas, including to China.

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Jin, meanwhile, was arrested in December 2024 and indicted on multiple charges including operating a criminal organization, receiving prostitution proceeds, money laundering, using transportation for prostitution, and maintaining illegal businesses for prostitution purposes. In July, she entered a no contest plea to the charge of operating a criminal organization—a legal procedure in which the defendant neither admits nor denies the charges but accepts punishment equivalent to a guilty verdict.

Dana Nessel, Michigan’s Attorney General, stated, “This case is among the largest forced commercial sex trafficking rings ever uncovered in our state.” Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said at a press conference, “The victims were essentially prisoners, confined within massage parlors.” Authorities plan to work jointly with federal and local law enforcement to completely dismantle prostitution and human trafficking criminal networks, while connecting rescued victims with specialized support organizations to continue protective measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.