Alleged Prostitution Operation Raided, 2 Arrested

MACOMB TOWNSHIP, MI – Two people have been arrested and police are looking for a third person in connection with what authorities say was a house of prostitution operated under the guise of a massage parlor at 21 Mile Road and Hayes in Macomb Township.

Macomb County Sheriff's deputies arrested Kui Liu, 61, of Madison Heights, and Lanjun Zhao, 52, who had multiple residences. Deputies say that Liu owns the massage parlor and Zhao managed it. Kui and Zhao were arraigned Monday on charges of operating a house of prostitution and using a computer to commit a crime.

Deputies also are looking for a third suspect, Zhiping Zhong, 59, who is considered the second manager of the massage parlor, police said. Zhong could not be found when deputies executed search warrants. She is described as a 5-foot-2, 130-pound Asian woman. She drives a Nissan Versa, and may be in Clarkston, Canton, Novi or Ferndale.

The Sheriff's Office received tips in September that prostitution was taking place at the massage parlor. Detectives began surveillance on the business, and monitored its social media postings that solicited possible clients. Detectives also went into the business, and were solicited by the workers.

Earlier this month, detectives executed search warrants at the business and a home in Madison Heights that was linked to employees. Several items were seized in the search and people were interviewed via an interpreter. That's when Liu and Zhao were taken into custody.

Liu and Zhao are due back in court on Wednesday, Ja. 17 for a probable cause hearing. Liu, Zhao and Zhong have been in the United States on work visas and green cards, according to a report.

Main photo, Kui Liu, 61, of Madison Heights, and second photo, Lanjun Zhao, 52; provided by the Macomb County Sheriff's Office