Grand Rapids Man Accused Of Human Trafficking

Grand Jury Alleges Sex Trafficking of a Child and Child Exploitation

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a grand jury has charged a man from Grand Rapids with federal human trafficking and child exploitation crimes. Torey Franklin, 29, is accused of sex trafficking a minor in the spring and summer of 2022, and producing, receiving, and distributing child pornography during the same time period as part of his trafficking business.                              

          “Trafficking in any form is inherently cruel, but the sex trafficking of minors is particularly troubling because of the unique vulnerability of the victims,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “My office is committed to protecting our most vulnerable and holding traffickers legally accountable for their offenses.”

           According to the indictment, Franklin provided a 17-year-old minor for commercial sex work in Kent County, even though he knew the minor was under the age of 18. The indictment also alleges that Franklin enticed the same minor to take sexually explicit pictures, which he then distributed. Sex trafficking of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison. If Franklin is convicted of this offense, the sentencing judge will have discretion to impose up to a lifetime term of imprisonment. The penalty range for the sexual exploitation of a minor charge is 15 to 30 years, and the range for the child pornography charges is 5 to 20 years.

          “Combating sex trafficking and violence in our communities is of the highest priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners across the State of Michigan,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “These types of crimes have a lasting impact on the victim and those who harm the most vulnerable members of our society will be held accountable.”

          The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

###