MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Millington man was found guilty on charges of sex trafficking minors and other offenses.
From May 2013 to September 2013, Michael Lilley had four minors, ages 15-, 16- and 17-year old, engaging in sex acts for money.
According to the Department of Justice, Lilley used text messages and took explicit photos of the high school students as a means to market them to men willing to pay for sex. He would then allow the men to come to his Millington home, backhouse or van for sex. Lilley would also drive the girls to various locations across the city to make the transaction.
He would then split the money made with the girls.
Some of the teens attended Brighton and Millington High Schools.
During the trial, text messages between the girls and Lilley discussing pricing were brought before the court. It was revealed the teens had been trafficked for as little as $60 per act.
Lilley was found guilty of four counts of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; three counts of sexually exploiting a minor; one count of attempting to sexually exploit a minor; three counts of distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexual activity; and one count of possessing possessing at least one digital device containing depictions of minors engaged in sex.
He was scheduled to be sentenced on December 17 and faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars.