Married couple charged in human trafficking, prostitution ring tied to Metro Detroit massage parlors - ClickOnDetroit

[Brandon Carr]

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Paul Katterman and his wife, Zixuan Wan, face serious charges regarding their ownership of massage parlors in Commerce Township, Farmington Hills, and Westland.

Prosecutors allege that the couple forced women to work in their businesses, offering sex acts for little to no pay.

Local 4 visited Farmington Hills on Thursday (April 24), where the massage parlor remained shut down following last month’s bust.

Both Katterman and Wan have been arrested and charged with crimes, including keeping a house of prostitution and running a human trafficking enterprise.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald emphasized the prevalence of such operations, saying, “This is so prevalent, and it is literally right under our noses.”

McDonald highlighted that many people would not suspect legitimate-looking establishments could be involved in such illicit activities.

McDonald continued, “The most startling aspect of this is that these are establishments that are considered legitimate by your everyday person in the county. They wouldn’t ever guess that something like this was going on.”

Last month, Wan was arrested and charged, and this week, her husband, Katterman, was also taken into custody, charged with similar crimes, including keeping a house of prostitution and running a human trafficking enterprise.

“The women in cases like these are brought from a different country, and they don’t have citizenship; they don’t have legal status here. They don’t have income. They are often trapped because they are staying in these establishments,” McDonald said.

The investigation revealed that the four women rescued during the bust were brought from other countries without citizenship or legal status.

They lived in the massage parlors with little to no money, effectively trapped in a situation described by McDonald as “modern-day slavery.”

Mcdonald’s message about these illicit massage parlors is this is not a victimless crime.

“Those are victims, and they are right here in our community,” McDonald said, reinforcing that these crimes are not victimless.

The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said it’s committed to addressing the issue, having undergone special training to combat human trafficking and related crimes.

As the investigation continues, more cases like this are expected to emerge, reflecting the ongoing efforts to dismantle such operations.

If you suspect that any child or adult is a victim, or is at risk of becoming a victim, call 855-444-3911 any time, day or night. If the individual is in imminent danger, immediately call 911. Click here to learn more about human trafficking from the State of Michigan.,