A Detroit man who prosecutors say ran a human trafficking scheme out of a Warren motel is headed to state prison after a Macomb County judge imposed multi-year sentences and ordered him to stay away from the woman he exploited.
Authorities say the case began on November 3, 2023, when the woman escaped from the Warren motel and told investigators she had been forced into sex work and other labor, a disclosure that sparked the investigation and ultimately led to the arrests and convictions.
Aaron Streety, 41, pleaded no contest in June and was sentenced to state prison terms that include a 7-to-20-year term on a forced-labor/debt-bondage count and additional 7-to-15-year terms on related enterprise and forced-labor charges, according to the Macomb County prosecutor's office as reported by The Detroit News. Court records show the judge also ordered Streety to have no contact with the woman prosecutors say he exploited.
Prosecutors say the woman told investigators she had been forced to perform sex acts with multiple men for money while being held at the motel. As detailed by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Streety and co-defendant Bernard Desean Harris were bound over to Macomb County Circuit Court in January 2024 on a slate of felony counts stemming from the alleged forced-labor and sex-trafficking operation.
Bernard Harris, who had earlier pleaded no contest to related enterprise charges, was sentenced to 9-to-20 years in state prison, prosecutors said. Officials also note Harris is serving a separate four-year federal sentence tied to a conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to The Detroit News.
Prosecutor: standing with survivors
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido framed the outcome as part of a broader effort to back survivors and crack down on traffickers. He said his office is focused on victims and accountability, writing, "Our pursuit of justice is resolute, and we stand united in the fight against the crime of human trafficking, advocating for the rights and dignity of the victims involved." The statement appeared in a county press release outlining the original charges and the office's response to trafficking in the region, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Timeline and court history
The woman’s escape in November 2023 set off a fast-moving investigation that gathered enough evidence for multiple felony counts. Streety was arraigned on November 21, 2023, with bond set at $2 million, and Harris was arraigned on November 6, with bond set at $500,000, local reporting shows. Both men were bound over to circuit court on January 26, 2024, as coverage at the time laid out the counts and upcoming court dates for each defendant, per ClickOnDetroit.
Where survivors can find help
Officials and victim-service groups urge anyone affected by trafficking to use survivor-centered resources. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services publishes a statewide list of anti-trafficking service providers, along with the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888). The state's directory lists regional organizations and hotline options for immediate help and long-term support, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Prosecutors described the sentences as part of Macomb County's effort to hold traffickers accountable and support survivors, a stance reflected in local coverage and county statements. The case remains on the Macomb County Circuit Court docket and could include further filings such as restitution or victim-impact matters in the weeks ahead, local reporters note.
