Human Trafficking Ring Busted In Oakland, Macomb Counties; NY Man Arrested

LANSING (WWJ) - Authorities say a human trafficking ring has been busted in Oakland and Macomb counties.

At the center of the ring, according to the Michigan Attorney General's office, was 24-year-old Jonathan Colon, of Bronx, New York -- who is now facing a list of felony charges.

"Human trafficking is modern day slavery and happens in Michigan every day. Together with the FBI and Michigan State Police, I am putting a stop to these offenders," Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement. "This is a warning for all those involved in human trafficking: Your time is up, we will find you and we will put an end to your terrible crimes against those who you hurt."

The AG's office says Colon was allegedly conducting an online escort operation where he would post advertisements for commercial sex for at least two women on the Internet. The victims, staying at Detroit-area motels with Colon, were allegedly forced to turn over the money from the sex acts to Colon, who would then provide them with highly addictive drugs, according to officials.

Colon was arrested Tuesday and arraigned in Madison Height's 3rd District Court on two counts of forced labor -- human trafficking, two counts of prostitution -- accepting earnings, and one count each of prostitution/pandering, conducting a criminal enterprise, and habitual offender -- second offense. He remains jailed on a $800,000 bond and is due back in court for a pre-exam conference on Nov. 30, with a preliminary exam scheduled for Dec. 7.

The charges result from an investigation into multiple incidents of sex trafficking conducted by Oakland and Macomb county police agencies, coordinated through the Roseville Police Department and the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force, a joint operation between the Michigan State Police and FBI, and the Michigan Joint Anti-Trafficking Task Force.