An ongoing police investigation into suspected prostitution and human trafficking activity in Oakland and Macomb counties has resulted in multiple criminal charges for a 34-year-old woman, officials said.
Maya Scott Perry is charged with prostitution-transporting a person, prostitution-accepting earnings, human trafficking enterprise resulting in injury-commercial sexual activity, capturing or distributing an image of an unclothed person, and false report of a felony — all felonies — and fourth-degree child abuse, a misdemeanor. Perry, recently arraigned in 44th District Court, is held in the Oakland County Jail, with bond set at $250,000 cash or surety.
At least one adult female victim was allegedly trafficked by Perry throughout the metro Detroit area including Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Southfield and Warren, according to a news release from Madison Heights Police Lt. Scott Holdreith.
As stated in the news release, evidence from the investigation — launched in June by the Madison Heights Police Department — shows Perry often engaged in criminal behavior while her minor child was present, though detectives have confirmed the child wasn’t involved or physically harmed. The child is now in the care of a custodial parent.
Citing a restructuring earlier this year of the Madison Heights Police Department’s special investigations unit — which included adding another detective and appointing a new sergeant — Holdreith said it’s now fully-staffed and better equipped to “address criminal complex activity.”
“Our investigators have hit the ground running, taking on a wide range of cases involving fugitive apprehension, property crimes, narcotics and criminal organizations. These detectives are committed to protecting vulnerable individuals in our community, and this investigation is a good example of that,” he said.
Holdreith also said the special investigations unit relies heavily on a “strong relationship with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as our partnerships with neighboring agencies at the county, state and federal levels. This ongoing collaboration remains essential to our mission of ensuring public safety in our community.”
Police aren’t sharing additional details on the investigation into the alleged prostitution/human trafficking case as investigators continue to work on identifying additional or potential victims, Holdreith said. Anyone with further information regarding the investigation, or who believes they may have been victimized by Perry, is asked to call Madison Heights Police Detective Sgt. Shane Bissonett at 248-837-2767.
Perry’s next appearance in 44th District Court is scheduled for Sept. 18 for a probable cause conference.
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