Sex-trafficking case moved to federal court

A 35-year-old Sioux Falls man accused of injecting a woman with drugs and forcing her into prostitution faces federal human trafficking charges.

Michael Lee Dickey was indicted Monday by a federal grand jury on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. The indictment alleges the victim had been trafficked for more than a year in Sioux Falls.

On the night of July 13, Dickey and the victim were in a fight that continued into the early morning hours, according to Sioux Falls police. During the fight, the woman was punched and kicked in the head several times.

Dickey left the home in the 500 block of South Prairie Avenue after the victim fell asleep. The victim fled to a neighbor’s residence after waking up and noticing Dickey had left her alone.

The victim said Dickey was controlling her, taking her belongings and keeping her in the home unless she went somewhere with him.

The victim told officers that Dickey had forced her to have sex with other men more than 100 times during a four- to five-month period.

Dickey is being held in jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

More arrests are expected in the case.