Prostitution charges filed in trafficking case

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Two massage businesses and three homes raided resulted in at least a dozen arrests, all the result of months of undercover work and monitoring of a possible trafficking operation of human beings in Macomb County.

“This has been approximately a three-month investigation that began with a tip from a concerned citizen,” said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.

So far, four people have been indicted on multiple counts, including prostitution. Six people are being detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for being in the country illegally. Some of them are potential victims of human trafficking and were housed in shelters in Macomb County.

“These individuals had no means of transportation. They were being driven back and forth by the individuals that we had arrested,” Wickersham said. “So we were very concerned about human trafficking, individuals who were being held perhaps against their will.”

It turns out that a house on Gulliver Street in Shelby Township is owned by a nearby restaurant with two locations in metro Detroit. The owner told us he bought the house to house employees and that some employees lived there.

However, they denied any involvement or knowledge of the human trafficking operation. No one from the restaurant has been charged in this case and the restaurant has not been accused of illegal activity, so we are not disclosing the name of the restaurant.

“We’re still figuring out who owns the house,” Wickersham said. “I know we're talking about the Shelby Township house. I wasn't inside, but my detectives indicated there were about 11 different makeshift rooms in the basement, deplorable living conditions So that will be another aspect of our investigation. If these people lived in this type of environment, are they forced to live in these companies? this survey.

Another part of this investigation is determining whether or not this case is related to another case from December, which resulted in multiple searches and arrests linked to massage parlors in metro Detroit.

Watch our December report in the video player below:

Alleged prostitution and human trafficking ring dismantled in metro Detroit

“Whatever's going on, I just hope it's all cleaned up,” said Frank Penzin, who lived next door to the Shelby Township home.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex trafficking with 24/7 support. You can call 888-373-7888 or text 233733