Monee Atkinson

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A woman has admitted to being part of a trio that robbed men who responded to Internet sex ads.

Monee Atkinson, 18, pleaded guilty Thursday, May 19, to two counts of armed robbery and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. A count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery was dismissed.

Her co-defendants, 16-year-old Latesha Clay and 19-year-old Trayvin Lewis, are serving time in prison after pleading guilty.

The three were charged with robbing two men in 2015 who responded to ads on Backpage.com that offered sex and included photos of unknown women who claimed to be between 19 and 22 years old, prosecutors said.

A man reported he was robbed after agreeing to meet two people in their room at Motel 6, 4855 28th St. SE, in Cascade Township in August. When the man arrived, he was invited in by Atkinson and Clay, who was 15 at the time, deputies said.

Lewis then came forward brandishing what investigators later determined was an Airsoft pistol with the orange tip removed. He ordered the victim to the ground, stealing the man's money and cellphone.

Authorities said Lewis and Atkinson forced a victim to drive to an ATM and withdraw $300. The man was able to escape and call police.

Deputies recovered cash, the victim's cellphone and an airsoft gun in the motel room.

Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth said the teens committed over 20 armed robberies during a two-month span last year.

Local groups that fight sex trafficking and prostitution rallied against Clay's nine- to 20-year sentence, contending that she was coerced by her co-defendants. Lewis was her boyfriend at the time.

Sheriff's department officials and Forsyth said Clay was a willing participant in the crimes and there was no evidence to suggest she was a trafficking victim.

Authorities said they weren't interested in charging men for solicitation of prostitution in the case.

Clay pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and two counts of unlawful imprisonment.

Lewis pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment and carrying a concealed weapon. He is serving 13 to 25 years in prison.

Atkinson will be sentenced June 27. She is jailed on $50,000 bond.

Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for MLive. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter.