Two people from Toledo were detained in Michigan for allegedly participating in a human trafficking conspiracy that exploited a special needs victim, according to officials.
Skye Tristan, 21, and Rodney Fisher, 29, both from Toledo, were detained as part of a Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team, or GHOST, operation.
According to Genesee County Sheriff Swanson, the two drove a special needs adult who had difficulty speaking between Metamora, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio, but stopped in Genesee County to abuse her for money.
While checking Tristan’s phone for evidence, authorities discovered that he was also sextorting guys.
Investigators allege she would invite males to have sex with her and photograph the interactions. Then she’d email the men photos and claim she was underage in an attempt to get them to pay her for not distributing the images. She was of legal age during these interactions.
“GHOST not only does proactive investigations, but we also search to find out: are there people being trafficked that are vulnerable? Because it’s not always just underage. It’s people that have special needs, like in this particular case,” Sheriff Swanson said. “It’s individuals that have a drug addiction or a debt to pay off. That’s what traffickers do. They find a way to groom and then they lock you in.”
Sheriff Swanson stated that while he understands how terrible these stories can be for families, exposing them can encourage additional victims to come forward.
“Many times they’ll say, ‘they did it to me, now that they’re held accountable, I want to tell you my story.’ If that is you out there, even if it’s not Genesee County, you can call 810-257-3422.”