An Inkster man has been charged with child sex trafficking after an investigation led to the recovery of a 15-year-old girl who authorities say was being advertised online for commercial sex.
Illya Matthew Green Jr, 24, was arrested on 22 September after investigators linked him to online adverts featuring the teenager, according to court records. He faces one federal count of sex trafficking of children.
The investigation began on 21 September when the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force was alerted by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children about an advert depicting a missing 15-year-old girl.
Facial-recognition technology allegedly identified the teenager in the advert. Investigators then traced the accompanying telephone number to an apartment on Tobin Street in Inkster, where the girl was believed to be staying with an adult woman.
Teenager recovered from Inkster apartment
An undercover officer reportedly exchanged messages with the number and arranged a meeting involving the teenager and the woman. The meeting did not take place, but task force officers began monitoring the property.
The following day, officers saw a vehicle arrive carrying Green, the woman and the 15-year-old. Court documents say the girl ran from the vehicle into the apartment as officers approached.
Green allegedly crouched beside the vehicle, where officers heard what sounded like a gun striking the ground. Investigators recovered a stolen Springfield handgun from the area and found a loaded magazine in Green’s pocket, along with about $900 in cash.
The phone recovered during the arrest rang when officers called the number used in the online adverts, according to the complaint. The teenager was later found inside the apartment.
Authorities also reported finding opened boxes of condoms and hotel-room keys in the vehicle. A search of the apartment allegedly uncovered a Norinco rifle, Green’s driving licence and Social Security card, as well as women’s clothing.
Investigators said the telephone number connected to Green had appeared in 138 similar adverts. The adverts offered sexual services involving two women and quoted prices for meetings.
Green is being held in the custody of the US Marshals Service. His next court appearance, a detention hearing, is scheduled for 28 September.
The allegations have not been tested in court. Green is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
