Executive Summary
- Samuel Lee Hill, 29, charged with transporting a female for prostitution.
- Arrest executed by the Fugitive Apprehension Team at a Southfield motel.
- Two co-defendants face charges of operating a human trafficking enterprise.
- Sheriff Bouchard emphasizes ongoing efforts to dismantle trafficking networks.
A third individual has been formally charged in connection with an alleged human trafficking operation based in Southfield, Michigan, following an investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Court records indicate that Samuel Lee Hill, 29, of Woodhaven, was arraigned on a count of transporting a female for the purpose of prostitution.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the department’s Fugitive Apprehension Team located and arrested Hill at a motel in Southfield. Following his arraignment, a judge set his bond at $5,000. He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause conference on March 5.
Hill’s arrest follows the earlier arraignments of two other alleged co-conspirators: Jowuan Lawrence Shorter, 30, of Inkster, Michigan, and Kylee Lynn Berry, 27, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Authorities stated that Shorter and Berry are charged with operating a human trafficking enterprise and accepting earnings from prostitution. Shorter faces an additional charge for possession of a controlled substance. Both Shorter and Berry received bonds set at $50,000.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard commented on the ongoing efforts of the anti-human trafficking task force. “Our anti-human trafficking task force was able to identify, locate and arrest this third individual involved in this trafficking case,” Bouchard stated. “We will hunt down anyone involved in this modern-day scourge.”
Judicial & Investigative Context
The apprehension of a third suspect highlights the complex, multi-layered nature of human trafficking investigations, which often involve multiple actors performing distinct roles within a criminal enterprise. The discrepancy in charges—transporting versus operating an enterprise—suggests investigators are delineating between the logistical enablers and the primary organizers of the alleged scheme. As the case moves to the probable cause conference, prosecutors will likely focus on establishing the hierarchical links between the defendants to substantiate the enterprise charges.
It is important to note that all individuals named in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
