On Wednesday July 24, Donald L. Perkins was arraigned on numerous charges in connection with a nationwide prostitution sting including kidnapping and human trafficking. While Perkins is being held without bond, authorities now believe that there may have been more girls working for him than first believed. Investigations are ongoing according to Michigan State Police Detective Sergeant Ed Price of the Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children, an organization headed up by the FBI.
Perkins was one of four men arrested on July 21 for suspicion of kidnapping, operating a house used for prostitution, and pandering. Police investigated a home located on West Russell Avenue, and found a 20-year-old woman in the basement, along with two 17-year-old girls who were believed to have been sexually assaulted.
A campaign known as Operation Cross Country has been in force for a decade, and is conducted under the FBI’s Innocence Lost initiative. In their efforts to shut down a nationwide prostitution ring, authorities have arrested 150 pimps across the nation so far, 18 of them in the state of Michigan. Perkins was one of the 18 pimps in the state.
A news article at Mlive.com indicates that authorities believe Perkins invited teens to a party before taking them captive and forcing them to perform sex acts at various locations over a period of several days.
Perkins is being held without bond at the current time.
Michigan prostitution lawyers understand the seriousness of these types of crimes, and the harsh consequences individuals face if convicted of prostitution or solicitation.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for human trafficking, prostitution or other sex-related offenses, take action to protect your legal rights and freedom immediately. Contact a capable and aggressive Michigan sex crime attorney who will work vigorously to obtain positive results.