Millington Man Charged Wtih Sex Trafficking

MEMPHIS,Tenn.–A Millington man was charged Monday in a criminal complaint with sex trafficking of minor girls from as many as three high schools in West Tennessee.

According to facts revealed in a sworn affidavit filed with the complaint, MichaelA.Lilley, 49, was recruiting girls as young as 15 years old to work as prostitutes at his home in Millington. Lilley and another individual would provide alcohol and drugs for the girls, who would hang out at an enclosure in his back yard referred to as the “back house.”

One of the victims told authorities that Lilley would bring men to his home for the purpose of engaging in prostitution with the girls. The men paid $60 or $75 per session with the girls, and Lilley gave the girls approximately $30 per customer.

Another victim told authorities that she had sex with men at Lilley’s home, at the homes and trailers of men Lilley set her up to meet, and in a van owned by Lilley while parked in parking lots of various restaurants.

The girls were recruited out of various high schools by a minor boy who advised authorities that he had been working f or Lilley f or six months. He was paid $20 out of every $100 made by the girls.

Officials first became aware of Lilley’s actions when one of the girls confided what was going on to the school crisis counselor at one of the high schools. The counselor then reported it to the Shelby County Sheriff’s
Of f ice.

“The activities alleged in the sworn affidavit, if proven to be true, are reprehensible,” said U.S.Attorney Stanton. “This office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to prosecute and bring to justice anyone who exploits children for profit.”

Lilley is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday, September 12, 2013. If convicted he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of up to life in prison on each charge.