Seven men have been arrested on prostitution related charged as the result of a joint investigation into sex trafficking in Northern Menominee County.
According to the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) the men were arrested August 22nd and charged with for Prostitution/Engaging in Services and Using Computers-Internet to Commit Crime and lodged at the Menominee County Jail.
Law enforcement agencies placed online ads on websites used for prostitution, to which 32 men responded, and 7 followed thru and met an undercover detective posing as a prostitute.
The names of the men are being withheld pending their arraignment.
UPSET says The main purpose of the operation was to reduce the demand for sex trafficking and to identify possible victims. Anyone responding to the advertisements is creating the demand that fuels sex trafficking.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation include the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Division of Drug Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Hannahville Tribal Police Department, Michigan State Police Homeland Security Team, and the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
