LANSING, Mich. – A Lansing woman is accused of trafficking minors for sex as part of an online escort operation between 2009 and 2014.
Amber Speed, 40, faces multiple felonies including three counts of minor sex trafficking, three counts pandering (prostitution), one count of accepting the earning of a prostitute, and one count of debt bondage.
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Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's office said Speed's operation was uncovered when a Michigan State Police trooper, who had just gone through human trafficking training, came across the case.
Speed was arraigned on the charges this week in a Lansing court. She is being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond. Her next court date is March 30.
"Human trafficking is a crime that can be stopped by increasing awareness of the signs,” said Schuette. “One of the goals of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission is to increase awareness, and thankfully, Michigan State Troopers recognized the signs of trafficking after completing a comprehensive training about how to identify the crime. The signs are out there, and thankfully the Troopers were able to act in this case of suspected trafficking.”
Case background from the AG's office:
Speed was allegedly conducting an “escort” operation, posting advertisements for commercial sex for herself and at least three other girls and young women online. The alleged victims were minors when they were brought into the human trafficking ring. Multiple instances of Speed allegedly trafficking minors is alleged to have occurred from 2009 through approximately 2014.
"Human trafficking happens in Michigan and we should all be aware of the signs that might save someone’s life," stated Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the Michigan State Police. "Providing training to our troopers on how to recognize human trafficking was one important step in fighting this increasing crime."
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