Authorities: Metro Detroit prostitution ring included crimes in spas, Detroit casino

Three women are charged in what Macomb County authorities said is a more than yearlong investigation into prostitution and human trafficking, with search warrants spanning six communities in three counties and including spas and casino hotel rooms.

Investigators recently executed nine search warrants across metro Detroit, including at five spas in the tri-county area, two casino hotel rooms at MGM Casino in Detroit and two residences in Troy and Livonia, Macomb County authorities announced Monday.

They said nine people, including a Chicago woman accused of prostitution/keeping a house of ill fame, were detained. Two women and a 25-year-old man were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for overstaying their visas, authorities said. Five other women were released pending misdemeanor charges. All the women range in age from 32 to 58 years old, authorities said.

The investigation began in August 2022 after authorities received a tip, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. He said 42 search warrants have been executed in the ongoing investigation.

"There's still a lot to do," Wickersham said. Authorities hope to learn whose money was behind the operation and whether there are more trafficking victims.

How the prostitution ring was set up

Authorities said multiple women sought assistance from Turning Point Inc., whose representatives were on site, and were provided with safe places to stay. Turning Point provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking.

This is how authorities said the alleged crimes worked: In some instances, online advertisements were posted for specific establishments where female workers were encouraged to solicit sexual acts. The workers had no means of transportation and no place to live, often sleeping at the spas.

Workers did not earn an hourly rate and would get paid only based on their services and tips, authorities said. They appeared to rotate establishments every 45 days or less if they didn't provide enough money for the business. They often went to and from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin, authorities said.

Illegal proceeds from the establishments were used at a Detroit casino, a tactic authorities said they believed was a way to hide money. They said money also was sent to China.

Investigators identified people whom authorities allege provided transportation or operated and maintained the illegal establishments.

Where the alleged crimes were committed

Xiaohong Ban, 52, of Chicago was arrested Wednesday at the casino and arraigned on a charge of prostitution/keeping a house of ill fame, a five-year felony. She received a $10,000 personal bond and an electronic tether, and has a probable cause conference Dec. 27, per authorities and online records for 41B District Court in Clinton Township.

The attorney listed for her in the online records could not be immediately reached Monday. Ban's first name in court records is spelled Xiaong.

Warrants also were issued for Lori Cai, 31, of Troy, and Shuying Ding, 41, of Appleton, Wisconsin, for prostitution/keeping house of ill fame. They were not custody, and Wickersham said authorities are looking for them and believe they are out of state.

Wickersham said Ban happened to be at the casino and had a room there that was searched.

Authorities identified the spa locations searched as: Seven Day Spa in Mount Clemens; Miracle Massage in Fraser; Day Spa Asian Massage in Shelby Township; and Seven Mile Spa and Bodyworks Massage, both in Livonia. They said the businesses currently are closed.

They said about $35,000 in U.S. currency and $6,700 in Canadian currency was seized as well as 22 cellphones, a laptop and a tablet. Investigators are reviewing the electronic devices.

Wickersham said this was the first time authorities took Turning Point representatives with them on a search warrant. He and others said the workers, while may be held captive here, may believe they have a better life in America than in China.

Sharman Davenport, Turning Point's president/CEO, said "we're very pleased that so much effort is going into solving crimes of human trafficking." She said the group can provide safe housing, counseling, trauma services, legal advocacy and translation services.

Davenport said the group started providing services to victims of human trafficking about two years ago. She said most survivors are from Macomb County, but they also can be from elsewhere in Michigan or other states.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff's Enforcement Team detectives.

Those assisting included sheriff's detectives; Macomb Area Computer Enforcement; Clinton and Shelby township police departments; Fraser public safety; Troy Police; Livonia Police; FBI Gang and Violent Task Forces in Macomb and Oakland counties; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; and Michigan State Police.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit prostitution ring bust involved spas, casino hotel