A Chinese woman who ran massage parlors in the United States as part of an international human trafficking ring has been sentenced to prison.
CBS Detroit reported Friday (local time) that a Michigan court sentenced Jin Jingyu, 46, a Chinese national, to 40 months to 20 years in prison. The 16th Circuit Court in Macomb County handed down the sentence Monday.
Jin was initially indicted on six charges, including conspiracy to operate a criminal enterprise, receiving proceeds from prostitution, money laundering, using transportation for prostitution and maintaining a house of prostitution.
According to investigators, Jin owned and operated "111 Healing Studio" in St. Clair Shores and "AM Healing Studio" in Sterling Heights, both in Michigan. The two businesses were identified as hubs of a massage-parlor-based trafficking ring operating across Macomb and Wayne counties.
During the investigation, authorities rescued several female victims from China and South Korea. The victims were reportedly forced into prostitution at the businesses.
The Michigan Attorney General's office said that during the 2024 investigation, victims were confined to the business premises and unable to leave. Officials added that even when victims went to a gym to shower, they were brought back to the businesses afterward.
Michigan prosecutors consider the case one of the largest forced commercial sex-trafficking operations uncovered in the state.
"This criminal enterprise is one of the largest forced commercial sex-trafficking operations ever uncovered in our state," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "They trafficked victims directly into our communities."
Jin's accomplice, Huaji Piao, was sentenced in October 2025 to 40 months to 20 years in prison in Wayne County for running a separate illegal massage parlor.
Authorities said they plan to continue dismantling trafficking networks and protecting victims in cooperation with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies.
bbo@heraldcorp.com
