(WWJ) A Pontiac man is jailed on more than half-a-dozen felony charges after it's alleged he groomed young women and sold them for sex in Oakland County.
As Michigan continues the fight to combat human trafficking, Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday announced the arrest of 23-year-old Dallas Ephraim Jordan-King, on charges of conducting a criminal enterprise and for his alleged role in the prostitution and sex trafficking of numerous college-age females from July 2018 through Oct. 5, 2019, in Auburn Hills, Madison Heights, Pontiac and other local communities.
According to the AG's office, the investigation into Jordan-King’s alleged crimes was initiated by Auburn Hills Police, who discovered his M.O.
Investigators say Jordan-King would befriend his victims and then groom them to engage in sexual activity for profit, as he reaped the benefits. There were at least nine victims, authorities said.
“We are very pleased to bring charges against this individual," said Auburn Hills Police Chief Jeff Baker. "This case was especially disturbing in that this suspect sought out his targets at various colleges. We want this to send a clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in Oakland County.”
Madison Heights Police Chief Corey Haines said Jordan-King operated in part out of motels on John R at 14 Mile Road.
"Some people have noticed that there's some prostitution that's hanging around," he told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "But they look at it as it's just that, that it's prostitution, and they aren't able to see deeper that this really not, it's not just prostitution. Things are being held over these women's heads, and these girls' heads in this case, to make them perform the acts of prostitution."
"In this particular case, this suspect was actually keying in on very young, college-age girl that were going to be having college debt and other issues that were going on at college, and wanting to be popular, those types of things, and really capitalized on that," Haines said.
In addition to the sex trafficking, the investigation also revealed that Jordan-King allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a minor, officials said.
Jordan-King was also arraigned in a separate case in 50th District Court in Pontiac on one count of child sexually abusive material – production, a 20-year felony, with bond set at $25,000 cash in that case.
Due to the scope of Jordan-King’s alleged criminal activities across several jurisdictions, Auburn Hills Police detectives worked together with FBI Oakland County Violent Crime and Gang Task Force on the case. The Task Force is led by the FBI and is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Michigan State Police, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Madison Heights, Novi, Southfield and Troy.
“I am extremely proud of our team and our partners who worked so diligently on this investigation. Human trafficking is a modern-day scourge that must be ended. This case is a clear example of how this behavior will not be tolerated in Oakland County," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, in a statement.
Since 2011, the Michigan Department of the Attorney General has provided training to more than 1,000 professionals and filed charges against 29 individuals for human trafficking – all leading to arrests. It has successfully convicted 23, with cases against several additional defendants currently pending. The department is also home to the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission, which works to direct state policy on human trafficking.
“Human trafficking and sex trafficking are heinous crimes made more complicated by the fact that they often cross the jurisdictions of multiple law enforcement agencies,” Nessel said. “Investigating and prosecuting crimes that occur within the borders of several municipalities, states or nations can create unique challenges as we pursue justice. But this case is a clear example of the collaborative relationship law enforcement agencies at all levels should strive for when taking actions to hold criminals accountable.”
Jordan-King is scheduled for his next court appearance on Aug. 20.