LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said Monday that his new Human Trafficking Unit had filed the state's first criminal charges under its new human trafficking law.
Sedrick Leman-Isaac Mitchell, 32, of Detroit, is accused of human trafficking and other crimes after the Attorney General?s office alleged he enslaved two young girls, forcing them to engage in prostitution in Detroit. The charges result from an investigation by Michigan State Police and the FBI through the Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force.
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"Modern day slavery happens in Michigan every day and it must be stopped," said Schuette. "I am committed to a new fight against this enslavement of our children. This is a warning for the criminals running these operations: Your time is up."
Mitchell, also known as -- Gruesome and Roc -- is accused of enslaving the victims, which include a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old. Schuette alleges one 14-year-old was enslaved by Mitchell after he invited her to attend a party in July 2010. The child was then held captive in a house on Detroit?s east side for approximately two months. The 15-year-old girl was enslaved under similar circumstances from December 2010 to January 2011.
Schuette said the victims were forced to engage in prostitution, with Mitchell allegedly collecting all of their earnings. When the girls did not earn enough money, it is alleged Mitchell would physically abuse the girls by slapping and punching them, Schuette said.
In addition to the physical assaults, Schuette alleges Mitchell sexually assaulted the girls on several occasions.
Mitchell has been charged with two counts of human trafficking, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (relationship), one count of conducting criminal enterprises (racketeering), two counts of prostitution/pandering, two counts of prostitution -- accepting earnings, one count of felonious assault, one count of felony firearm -- second offense, and one count of felon in possession of firearm.
Mitchell was arrested in Mojave, California on July 21. Schuette?s office has begun the process to have Mitchell extradited to Michigan.
The Michigan law banning Human Trafficking (MCL 760.462a, et seq.) went into effect on August 24, 2006.
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