The following is a release from the Washington State Patrol:

Detectives from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MECTF) are seeking the public’s assistance in finding a man wanted for human trafficking.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 18-year old Mikael Z. Williams, who detectives believe assisted his older brother and another man in trafficking underage girls for sex. The three operated primarily in Pierce, King, Thurston and Snohomish counties.

The investigation began after a mother seeking the whereabouts of her runaway 15 year-old daughter located an ad on Backpage.com advertising her daughter for sex. The mother in turn contacted law enforcement.

The investigation revealed that Curtis Escalonte, 23, and Michael Williams, 22, were engaged in trafficking underage girls for commercial sex using Tacoma area hotel rooms and advertised the girls on Backpage.com throughout early December. Both are in the Pierce County Jail charged with numerous sex-related offenses with bail set at $2 million.

The wanted man, Mikael Z. Williams, is the younger brother of Michael Williams.

Detectives learned that Mikael Williams was aware of the sex trafficking, including renting some of the hotel rooms used, and expected to be paid for his part in the “business”. The warrant for Mikael Williams’ arrest alleges the felony of Promoting Commercial Sex Abuse of a Minor.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Mikael Williams is asked to call 9-1-1.