Mother and Son Accused of Trafficking 15-Year-Old Girl in Phoenix
A Phoenix mother and her 18-year-old son are facing serious charges after authorities say they trafficked a 15-year-old girl for sex over a 10-day period.
Semaj Andre Jeremiah Jackson Williams, 18, and his mother, Ranisha Williams, were arrested and charged with child sex trafficking after an investigation linked them to the exploitation of a teenage girl. Police say Semaj met the girl at a party and soon began arranging prostitution.
The trafficking is believed to have taken place between July 31 and August 10, with detectives stating the victim was found near 27th Avenue and Campbell, a stretch known locally as “The Blade”, notorious for illegal sex work.
When initially questioned, the teen hesitated to call it trafficking but admitted she was told to work the area by a “friend” and “boyfriend” she met at a party. Investigators later confirmed through text messages that Semaj was controlling her movements, booking motel rooms, offering to send food, and setting pricing for her services. The two also discussed splitting the money earned.
Semaj allegedly told the girl, “If you get 1,000 before 11, I can come break ts off,” encouraging her to increase rates and referencing other girls working nearby. He admitted to police that he earned between $8,000 and $10,000, all spent on “weed, food, and nonsense.”
Detectives say Ranisha Williams played a key role by coordinating Uber rides, providing her apartment as a location for “dates,” and helping manage the victim’s movements. Her Venmo account, which featured her photo, was linked to escort ads used by the victim.
Both Semaj and Ranisha were booked into Maricopa County Jail on $150,000 cash-only bonds.
During her initial appearance, Ranisha asked if there was another bond option, saying,
“I know I won’t be, and my parents probably won’t be able to make that amount up.”
The judge responded,
“My concern is not really at this time about you. My concern is really about the community, especially children being safe with you in the community.”
The Phoenix Police Department’s Real Time Operations Center, credited with improving response times and surveillance in high-risk areas, played a key role in making the arrests.
“It’s the epitome of a victim,” said Phoenix PD Sgt. Robert Scherer. “This girl was not treated l
