FARMINGTON HILLS — Paul Richard Katterman II, 57, of Livonia, Michigan, has been arrested and charged in connection with a human trafficking scheme that allegedly operated through illicit massage parlors, according to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald.
Katterman, the husband of Zixuan Wan, who was charged with human trafficking in March, faces several serious charges, including human trafficking enterprise resulting in commercial sexual activity, human trafficking enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, conducting criminal enterprises, and failure to file taxes. Katterman is scheduled for arraignment on April 23 before 47th District Court Judge Marla Parker.
Defense attorney Bradley Friedman, who represents both Katterman and Wan, criticized the timing of the arrest, claiming Katterman was taken into custody in a “sneaky” manner while picking up his children from school. “It seems like dirty pool, arresting him the day before the preliminary exam on his wife,” Friedman said. “It’s a way to delay the proceedings because they have no case.”
According to McDonald’s statement, Katterman allegedly participated in running the human trafficking operation alongside his wife, Zixuan Wan, operating through a network of illicit massage parlors where trafficked women were forced to live and work long hours for little or no pay.
The investigation into the operation began in November 2022, and search warrants were executed on March 5, 2025, at massage parlors in Farmington Hills, Westland, and Commerce Township, as well as Wan’s Livonia home. During the searches, authorities discovered “several human trafficking survivors” who had been living and working in the massage businesses.
Initially, Wan was charged with human trafficking enterprise resulting in commercial sexual activity, human trafficking enterprise, and keeping a house of prostitution. McDonald announced that additional charges have now been added, including conducting a criminal enterprise, money laundering, and failure to file taxes.
“Trafficking has become a sophisticated criminal enterprise that generates huge cash profits for the criminals who run them,” said McDonald. “We must use every available tool and resource to free victims, prosecute traffickers, and seize their ill-gotten money.”
Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggot expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the investigation. “These crimes are some of the most complicated to investigate, but our detectives’ dedication has allowed us to bring these additional charges and provide an opportunity for the survivors to be heard,” Piggot said.
If convicted, Katterman and Wan face the possibility of decades in prison, with charges such as conducting criminal enterprises carrying up to 20 years in prison. Other charges also come with potential sentences of 10-15 years and fines exceeding $100,000.
