HOLLAND (WHTC) — Holland resident Stephanie Martin, 24, is one of three co-defendants entering guilty pleas Friday in a federal West Michigan child sex trafficking case.
Grand Rapids residents Anthony Wilson-Lackey and Shyron Smith, both 22, were her co-defendants.
All three were charged with conspiring to sex traffic two minors in Grand Rapids and Holland. The incidents happened in September and October 2014, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Grand Rapids.
Wilson-Lackey recruited 15- and 16-year-old minors, delivering them to motels in Grand Rapids and an apartment building in Holland for commercial sex, according to federal authorities.
Martin rented hotel rooms and promoted commercial sex with minors in online posts, according to federal authorities, who noted Smith conspired with Wilson-Lackey to split the profits. Wilson-Lackey admitted to driving minors to the motels and to Holland to meet those paying for sex.
All three co-defendants admitted knowing the children were only 15 and 16 years old.
In 18 months, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan has successfully prosecuted six defendants for child sex trafficking, including Martin, Smith and Wilson-Lacky.
The sentencing hearings will likely be later this year, authorities said in the statement, with Martin and Smith facing up to five years each in prison and Wilson-Lackey facing up to a life sentence.
The investigation and prosecution were collaboratively pursued by the U.S. Attorney’s office; Grand Rapids Police Department; Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office; FBI; and the West Michigan-based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX). Assistant U.S. Attorney Tessa K. Hessmiller prosecuted the case.
The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Learn more about Project Safe Childhood in West Michigan, including resources for children and parents: http://www.justice.gov/usao/miw/programs/psc.html.
–Transcribed from the Western District U.S. Attorney’s statement by Peg McNichol
