FeedsPolice bust alleged prostitution ring
A Westland couple was charged today in 18th District Court with allegedly operating a prostitution ring.
According to Lt. Mark Engstrom of the Metro Street Enforcement Team (MSET), the arrests came after about a month of intensive investigation.
“We got a complaint just after Christmas from a 16-year-old girl out in Detroit,” he said.
The young woman, who was brought to the police station by her mother, told police that she was invited by 26-year-old Davina Shirley Lloyd to come live with her with the understanding that it was to be an intimate relationship, Engstrom said. The girl agreed and moved into an apartment in northern Westland—near Joy and Warren roads—with Lloyd and her boyfriend, 24-year-old Lanard Mack Henley. Soon after, the couple allegedly pushed the teen into becoming a prostitute, according to police. Clients were obtained through ads featuring the girl’s photo that were placed on web sites such as Craig’s List, he said.
“They would drive her to various hotels and she would exchange sex for money and give the money to Davina,” said Engstrom.
The teen allegedly told police that although she was unhappy with the situation she had been afraid to refuse or to displease Lloyd. Engstrom also said that the girl told police that Henley would physically and sexually assault her when Lloyd was not around.
“There was a lot of intimidation in this relationship,” said Engstrom.
The 16-year-old broke out of the alleged business after making it home for Christmas and telling her mother about the situation, he said.
Engstrom said MSET then set up a reverse—a meet—on Jan.17. An officer was sent to a Canton hotel and contacted the phone number given on the web site.
“There were several girls listed with the same phone number,” he said.
Lloyd allegedly drove up to the hotel in a vehicle containing Henley and two 18-year-old girls. One of the teens went to the room and spoke with the man about the price charged for sex while the other three waited in the vehicle, Engstrom said.
The officers who interviewed the individuals involved found that the alleged prostitute in the hotel room claimed that she had worked for Lloyd for about a year, making about “10 calls per week for sex,” Engstrom said. The girl also alleged that Lloyd and Henley had driven her to North Carolina in Fall 2007 for the purpose of prostitution, he said. She is believed to have been one of the first people added to the alleged prostitution business.
The other teen told police that she “had just come into town that day” and that she had just had her ‘business’ photos taken.
Both Lloyd and Henley were charged today before Magistrate Donald Vandersloot of the 18th District Court in Westland.
Lloyd has been charged with two counts of child sexually abusive activity, one count of using the Internet to communicate with others to commit a crime, two counts of transporting a female for purposes of prostitution, two counts of pandering, and with knowingly accepting earnings of a prostitute. Each charge is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Engstrom indicated that Lloyd has admitted to dropping off the prostitutes, setting up the prostitution ads online, taking money earned by the girls, and taking sexually explicit photos of the 16-year-old girl.
Henley has been charged with one count of child sexually abusive activity and two counts of transporting a female for purposes of prostitution—each of which are 20-year felonies. He also faces a habitual offender fourth offense charge, which could result in up to life in prison if found guilty.
According to Engstrom, Henley has admitted to driving girls to North Carolina for prostitution purposes, to driving various girls to hotels for purposes of prostitution, and with having sex with the 16-year-old—although the man allegedly claimed that they were “never alone.”
Vandersloot set bond at $1 million for each of them and entered a not guilty plea on their behalf. The case will return to the 18th District Court on Jan. 31 for preliminary examination, in which the prosecution must convince a judge that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.
Engstrom credited the arrests largely to the efforts of Sgt. Bob Swope, Ofc. Randy Thivierge, and Corp. Kevin Reed of the Metro Street Enforcement Team, which includes law enforcement officers from the Inkster, Wayne, Westland, Garden City, and Wayne County Sheriff’s departments for the arrest.
