Vincent Allen Payne, a 60-year-old resident of Valrico, Florida, has been sentenced to 19 to 30 years in prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct following his conviction by a Hillsdale County jury. The sentencing was delivered by Judge Sara S. Lisznyai of the 1st Circuit Court after Payne was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor relative between 2004 and 2008 while living in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Payne’s extradition to Michigan took place last year through the efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service as part of Operation Survivor Justice. This initiative is a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors, and federal authorities to locate and return individuals with outstanding sexual assault warrants.
Attorney General Dana Nessel stated, “My office, and prosecutors across the State, are able to secure accountability for sexual predators through our continued efforts under Operation Survivor Justice. I am grateful for the tireless work of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the dedicated prosecutors in my office that brought about justice for this victim, so many years after her assault.”
The charges against Payne were originally filed by the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in January 2010.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General has a record of advancing social efforts such as actions against human trafficking and support for vulnerable populations. It also focuses on serving state residents through public service initiatives and exercises statewide authority to protect citizens across Michigan. Dana Nessel currently serves as Michigan’s 54th attorney general.