Prosecutors say a Johnson Creek man spent months exploiting a University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee student, pulling in thousands of dollars and tightening control over her life until she felt like "his puppet." A human-trafficking warrant is now out for his arrest, and the case is putting a spotlight back on campus safety and trafficking investigations in Milwaukee.
Man Sought On Trafficking Warrant
Court records show a warrant was issued April 29 for 22-year-old Briar Maier, who is charged with one felony count of human trafficking, according to FOX6 Milwaukee. FOX6 reports Maier has prior convictions for criminal damage to property, drug possession and disorderly conduct listed by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Prosecutors say the complaint was filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court and identifies the UWM student as the alleged victim.
Campus Landmarks Add To Sensitivity
Sandburg Halls is the largest on-campus residence community at UWM, according to UWM, and The Rave/Eagles Club is a long-standing concert venue on Wisconsin Avenue. Both spots are fixtures for UWM students and Milwaukee nightlife patrons. Their proximity to campus is part of what has made the case especially sensitive for students and university officials.
What Court Filings Say Happened
According to court filings reviewed by FOX6 Milwaukee, prosecutors say Maier stayed in the victim's room for nights at a time and introduced what she believed was MDMA but was actually crack cocaine. The complaint states he then took control of her phone and social media accounts.
The filings allege Maier used those accounts to solicit men for paid sex acts, took nude photos and videos, and kept the payments - sometimes as much as $300 a day - that she collected. Prosecutors say the total he took outside of cash was $3,487. According to the complaint, Maier also used her credit card and tried to open lines of credit in her name.
The victim told investigators she was "terrified" and felt that Maier had turned her into "his puppet," according to the same court documents.
Case Status And Court Process
The case is listed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court records, and a warrant for Maier was issued April 29. Dockets and filings will determine whether prosecutors move forward with formal charges and arraignment. Wisconsin court records are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. If the case proceeds, victim-witness advocates and sensitive-crimes prosecutors in the county's office are likely to be involved.
Milwaukee Trafficking Backdrop
Advocates and law enforcement say human trafficking is often underreported and difficult to measure. Milwaukee Police reported about 35 human-trafficking cases in each of 2023 and 2024, a figure local advocates say understates the problem, according to TMJ4. That backdrop frames the prosecutors' allegations about online contact, drugs and financial exploitation in this complaint.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office or Milwaukee Police. The county's DA page lists victim resources and contact information. For official contacts and resources, see the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
