NOVI, Mich. — A mother and son who authorities say own a Novi massage business are facing felony charges in what the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office describes as a human trafficking operation. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced the case this week.
Minjie Wu, 54, and Ruize Wu, 28, are charged over the Novi shop, Novi Natural Health and Massage, and a second spa, Commerce Massage, in Commerce Township. The charges include human trafficking and money laundering. Minjie Wu faces an additional allegation involving sexual contact. Prosecutors say the Wus own both businesses.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation in August through its human trafficking task force, after a tip about suspicious activity. Investigators say women were moved between the two businesses and two homes in Novi tied to the defendants, and that the homes housed women from China involved in commercial sex.
Undercover detectives report being offered sex acts in exchange for cash at both locations. Prosecutors allege Minjie Wu touched an undercover detective sexually without consent at the Novi shop during a visit.
Investigators searched four locations on Oct. 7. Agents took cash topping $47,000, gold bars, jewelry, two vehicles and passports belonging to workers, plus about $75,000 in high-end goods, financial records and electronic devices.
McDonald said the case is part of a wider Oakland County push against illicit massage businesses and warned that people who pay for sex acts can be prosecuted. Both defendants made court appearances last week, with another hearing expected Nov. 18. The allegations have not been proven in court.
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