Attorney General Dave Sunday has announced the arrest of Michael J. Choma, a Dauphin County resident, who is facing charges for allegedly orchestrating a human trafficking operation in Dauphin and Cumberland counties over several years.
Choma, 45, is accused of using websites such as "Backpage" and "Skip the Games" to recruit young women and advertise commercial sex from 2017 to 2021. He was taken into custody on Friday and charged with multiple felonies, including trafficking in individuals, involuntary servitude, and rape. A district judge in Dauphin County denied bail for Choma, citing him as a "threat to victims and society."
The investigation that led to these charges was conducted jointly by the Office of Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Section and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Organized Crime Unit.
“Human traffickers cause widespread harm to communities where they operate and long term trauma for survivors,” stated Attorney General Sunday. “The collaborative work led by our Human Trafficking Section exposed a defendant who allegedly preyed on individuals struggling with substance abuse and other hardships. This conduct was nothing short of cruel and dehumanizing.”
Choma faces numerous charges including promoting prostitution, criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, sexual assault, and delivery of a controlled substance.
It is alleged that Choma used violence along with access to controlled substances to exert control over his victims through duress and debt coercion. He managed advertisements for commercial sex services while retaining most earnings himself. Furthermore, he arranged for survivors to perform sexual acts with a known drug supplier in exchange for drugs.
In addition to these allegations, Choma reportedly assaulted individuals by drugging them with GHB—a substance commonly referred to as a “date rape drug”—and sexually assaulted them after they became unconscious.
The prosecution will be handled by Deputy Attorney General Kayla Bolan from the Organized Crime Section alongside Deputy Attorney General Lauren Perchinski from the Human Trafficking Section. The legal proceedings are ongoing as Choma remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.