Michigan man convicted of sexually harassing au pairs

A bizarre story about a Michigan man who lured au pairs to the country and then sexually abused them has been condemned.

What is an Au Pair?

It can be helpful to know what an au pair is to better understand the crime committed. An au pair is someone (usually from another country) who works and lives with a host family and takes on housework or childcare in exchange for room and board.

There is a difference between a nanny and an au pair. Although both nannies and au pairs help with child care, a nanny is a regular paid employee, while an au pair receives a room and meals in the family home.

Michigan man lured au pairs to the country to sexually harass them in his home

Arisknight Arkin-Everett Winfree, 32, who owned a home in Lansing with his mother, forced women and children to live with him and his family to care for a family member, but sexually assaulted the victims instead.

Read more: Husband dies, wife charged in Nintendo Switch dispute

According to Law & Crime, Winfree used the website AuPair.com to contact young women and, once contact was made, induced them to use WhatsApp to discuss the arrangements for their entry into the country.

Winfree contacted a woman from Italy and arranged to fly her from Italy to Detroit and from there take a bus to East Lansing. When the woman arrived, she was surprised to see that all the windows and floors in the house were covered with newspapers. One day after her stay at the home, she was handcuffed and raped in front of the camera.

Winfree took the woman to the bus stop she arranged for the trip back to Italy and went straight to a hospital where a rape kit was used. Italian authorities turned to U.S. authorities, who searched Winfree’s home and found firearms, nearly 80 grams of cocaine, other narcotics, as well as scales and evidence of drug trafficking and sexual stimulation devices. Winfree has since been charged with multiple crimes and sentenced to life in prison.

Seven Michigan criminals who were forgotten back then