Southfield, MI – Oakland County authorities have arrested a third suspect in the expanding Southfield human trafficking case that began with two arraignments earlier this week.
RELATED: Inkster Man, Pennsylvania Woman Charged In Southfield Human Trafficking Case
Samuel Lee Hill, 29, of Woodhaven, was taken into custody Tuesday evening without incident at a Southfield motel by members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team. He was arraigned in 46th District Court in Southfield on one count of transportation of a prostitute, a 20-year felony. Hill is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $5,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 5.
Hill’s arrest follows Monday’s arraignment of Jowuan Lawrence Shorter, 30, of Inkster, and Kylee Lynn Berry, 27, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Both were charged with operating a human trafficking enterprise, a 15-year felony, and accepting earnings of prostitution, a 20-year felony. Berry is also charged with possession of a controlled substance. Shorter and Berry are each being held on $50,000 bond.
The investigation began Saturday after a 47-year-old Detroit man reported being robbed inside a Southfield hotel room. Authorities said the man had gone to the hotel earlier that morning to meet with a sex worker. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force, working alongside the Southfield Police Department Tactical Crimes Suppression Unit, launched an investigation into potential trafficking activity.
Investigators executed search warrants on two hotel rooms, where authorities reported discovering suspected cocaine and fentanyl, along with evidence supporting human trafficking allegations. Law enforcement officials say the case quickly developed beyond the initial robbery report.
Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard credited the county’s anti-human trafficking task force for identifying and locating Hill as part of the broader investigation.
“Our anti human trafficking task force was able to identify, locate and arrest this third individual involved in this trafficking case,” Bouchard said. “We will hunt down anyone involved in this modern-day scourge.”
Authorities have indicated that the defendants may have connections to additional crimes in Bloomfield Township, Canton and Romulus. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to examine the full scope of the alleged operation.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim of human trafficking, or who has information about potential trafficking activity, is encouraged to contact the Human Trafficking tip line at 248-858-0411 or their local police department.
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