Metro Detroit man convicted of human trafficking of minor

(CBS DETROIT) – A Warren man was sentenced to seven to 40 years in prison for human trafficking of a minor in 2017, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

James Madison-Crawford, 30, pleaded guilty to human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual activity, accepting income from prostitution, transporting a person for the purpose of prostitution, of conducting a criminal enterprise, third-degree sexual conduct, assault by strangulation and assault. with a dangerous weapon.

Madison-Crawford is currently serving a sentence for accepting income from prostitution.

Officials said that in 2017, Madison-Crawford created an online account offering sex with a minor and facilitated “dates” with the minor. He also forced her to participate in sexual acts with him and threatened her into performing these acts on him.

The Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Task Force received information about a minor being sex trafficked and began investigating. The task force responded to an online ad in a sting operation that resulted in the juvenile being rescued.

“Human trafficking is a pervasive and horrific problem everywhere, and unfortunately Michigan is no exception,” Nessel said. “But it is also a severely punishable criminal offense, and I am grateful to the Court for imposing a significant sentence in this case.” My office, through our work on the National Human Trafficking Commission and in our prosecutions, remains committed to detaining traffickers. and those who exploit children must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. »