A pediatric neurologist who lives in Royal Oak has been charged with human trafficking in connection with allegedly paying for sex with trafficked women, and in at least one case, “ransoming” medical care to exploit the woman, according to Oakland County prosecutors.
Dr. Gireesh Velugubanti, 49, of Royal Oak, was allegedly a customer of a human trafficking ring operating out of the Sonesta Suites in Southfield. Three other people — Antione Fulgiam, Chanel Rackard and Sherri Gress — are charged in connection with the ring. Rackard is the first hotel employee to be charged with trafficking in Oakland County.
Velugubanti allegedly arranged commercial sex with trafficking victims through Fulgiam and purchased drugs. He is charged with human trafficking enterprise and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
“Purchasing sex with trafficked women isn’t a victimless crime. It is abuse,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “This defendant and men like him, often living comfortable lives, prey on victims who have been denied personal agency or freedom by traffickers. Sex trafficking only exists because so-called ‘customers’ create an economic incentive. They will be held accountable.”
Velugubanti does not have an attorney listed in court records. He was arrested Thursday.
When Velugubanti was unhappy with one of the trafficked sex workers, he allegedly asked Fulgiam to “warn the trafficking victim that her ‘free medical care’ may come to an end.”
“This defendant’s alleged behavior is especially shocking,” McDonald said. “According to police investigations, he effectively ransomed health care in order to exploit one or more victims. The first rule of the medical profession is to ‘do no harm.’ There are few things a doctor can do more harmful than to allegedly expect sex as a condition for care.”
Rackard, of Southfield, was charged in February with human trafficking enterprise, accepting the earnings of a prostitute, embezzlement and maintaining a drug house.
Fulgiam, of Detroit, is charged with human trafficking enterprise, procuring a person for forced commercial sexual activity, accepting the earnings of a prostitute, two counts of transporting a person for prostitution, assault with the intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, conspiracy to deliver or manufacture drugs.
And Gress, of Detroit, is charged with human trafficking enterprise and conspiracy to deliver or manufacture drugs.
In March, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Cindy Brown, who heads up the department’s trafficking division, told The News they were looking to start charging “johns” — the men who pay for sex — who often may know a woman is being trafficked and continue to pay traffickers, as well as more hotel employees.
kberg@detroitnews.com
