A Livonia couple accused of forcing women to live and work inside illegal massage parlors in Farmington Hills and two other cities will face arraignment Thursday, Aug. 27, in Oakland County Circuit Court on human trafficking and criminal enterprise charges.
Paul Richard Katterman II, 57, and Zixuan Wan, 44, were bound over to circuit court following preliminary exams in 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, The Oakland Press reported. Both are out on bond and scheduled to appear before Judge Jeffery Matis at 8:30 a.m.
Katterman faces charges of human trafficking enterprise resulting in commercial sexual activity, human trafficking enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, conducting a criminal enterprise and failure to file taxes. Wan faces the same charges plus second-degree money laundering.
Authorities allege the pair ran massage parlors in Commerce Township, Farmington Hills and Westland where women were forced to live on-site and work from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, according to ClickOnDetroit. The women were allegedly forced to participate in sex work.
The Farmington Hills Police Department led the investigation, which began in November 2024 after officers attended an Oakland County Prosecutor's Office training on human trafficking detection. That training led them to identify an unlicensed massage business near 13 Mile and Orchard Lake Roads, according to Hoodline, citing Farmington Hills police records.
On March 5, 2025, a joint task force of Farmington Hills police, the Westland Police Special Investigations Unit and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office executed search warrants at three massage parlors, a Livonia residence and several bank accounts. The raids recovered firearms and roughly $140,000 in cash, according to the Hoodline report.
Four non-English-speaking immigrant women from China were rescued during the operation and placed with Common Ground and CARE House of Oakland County for survivor assistance.
Wan was arrested the day of the raids and held on $100,000 bond with a GPS tether and passport surrender. Katterman was arrested weeks later, on April 22, 2025.
Under Michigan law, conducting a criminal enterprise carries up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Second-degree money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years and a $100,000 fine.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a March 2025 public statement, as reported at the time, that patrons of illicit massage parlors are complicit in human trafficking and could face criminal prosecution.
The case comes amid heightened trafficking enforcement in Oakland County. As we reported Aug. 11, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office arrested 45 men in a Dream Cruise-week undercover sting, filing 57 felony and 19 misdemeanor charges against buyers.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking can call 855-444-3911 at any time. Those in immediate danger should call 911.
