Two people were charged yesterday after a 47-year-old Detroit man told police he was robbed inside a Southfield hotel room while there to meet a sex worker. Authorities arrested 30-year-old Jowuan Lawrence Shorter of Inkster and 27-year-old Kylee Lynn Berry of Connelsville, Pennsylvania, and say both face counts tied to a suspected trafficking operation. Investigators also say a third man is still wanted. Police report that what they found in two hotel rooms included evidence of human-trafficking activity and suspected illegal drugs. Both suspects remain jailed in connection with the case as the investigation continues.
Search warrants, arrests and arraignment
According to Metro Detroit News, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force and the Southfield Police Department’s Tactical Crimes Suppression Unit secured search warrants for two hotel rooms, then moved in and arrested Shorter and Berry at the scene. The pair were arraigned Monday in 46th District Court in Southfield and are each being held on $50,000 bonds, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators told reporters they believe the suspects may be connected to other crimes in Bloomfield Township, Canton and Romulus as they track additional leads.
Part of a wider crackdown on hotel-based trafficking
Local law enforcement agencies have recently zeroed in on hotel corridors in their anti-trafficking work after a string of cases in the metro area, with authorities saying the use of multiple rooms and online solicitation are recurring red flags. Earlier coverage from ClickOnDetroit has documented arrests tied to the Oakland County task force and Southfield detectives, and officials say increased training and multi-agency coordination are fueling a rise in trafficking investigations. Prosecutors and investigators point to suspected narcotics and organized control of commercial sex activity as indicators that a case involving prostitution may also involve trafficking.
What the charges mean under state law
Accepting the earnings of a prostitute is a felony under Michigan law and can carry a maximum prison term of up to 20 years. Human-trafficking offenses come with variable maximum sentences that increase depending on the severity of harm and other circumstances, according to the Michigan Penal Code and state sentencing guidelines. Those statutes list human-trafficking violations with maximum penalties that can reach 20 years or more. Defense attorneys note that arraignment and bond hearings are only the first steps in a criminal process that requires prosecutors to prove charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-0411, officials told Metro Detroit News. People who suspect exploitation can also reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 for confidential assistance and to report tips, according to the hotline operator. The investigation remains active, and authorities say they will release additional details as they are able.
