LANSING – Today, James Madison-Cranford, 30, of Warren, pled guilty in the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County to human trafficking a minor, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.  

He pled as charged to: 

• One count of Human Trafficking of a Minor for Commercial Sexual Activity; 
• One count of Accepting Earnings from Prostitution; 
• One count of Transporting a Person for the Purpose of Prostitution; 
• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise; 
• Three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree; 
• One count of Assault by Strangulation; and 
• One count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. 

Madison-Cranford will also be required to register as a Sex Offender upon discharge from the Michigan Department of Corrections. 

In 2017, Madison-Cranford, who is currently incarcerated with the Michigan Department of Corrections and serving a sentence for one count of Accepting Earnings of Prostitution, created an online account offering for sale sex with a minor, facilitated logistics for the “dates” for that minor, and took possession of the money paid to her. He also forced her to perform sex acts on himself and threatened or used violence to get the minor to submit. This case was initially investigated by the FBI’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force. 

“The exploitation of a minor is an extremely abhorrent act, and I am relieved that traffickers are being held accountable,” Nessel said. “My office will continue to collaborate with our partners to combat human trafficking and support its victims.” 

Sentencing is scheduled for June 25th at 12:15 p.m. before Judge Cheryl A. Matthews in the 6th Circuit Court. Judge Matthews will determine his length of incarceration at sentencing. 

Information on Attorney General Nessel's Human Trafficking Initiative and the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission can be found on the Department of Attorney General's website. 

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