Man Who Operated Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison

Soloman Mustafa Used Violent Sex Acts, Duct Tape and Handcuffs, and Violence to Prevent Women from Escaping

ATLANTA—The operator of an Atlanta sex trafficking ring who committed violent sexual acts against his victims, bound them with duct tape, took their identification, and committed other atrocities in order to hold them captive was sentenced today to life in prison by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr.

Soloman Manasseh Mustafa, 38, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was convicted on July 18, 2012, after an eight-day jury trial of sex trafficking, kidnapping, transporting women across state lines for prostitution, document servitude, and enticement of a minor for sexual activity. His co-defendant, Kalandra Annette Wallace, 25, of Jonesboro, Georgia, pleaded guilty on October 11, 2011, and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “This defendant brutally assaulted young women and forced them into acts of prostitution in three states. Many of the victims were beaten, raped, handcuffed, and forced to snort cocaine by the defendant and his co-conspirator. Today’s sentence demonstrates that sex traffickers will pay a heavy price for victimizing young women.”

Ricky Maxwell, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, said, “Today’s sentencing removes a violent predator from the streets and prevents him from harming and exploiting others. The FBI’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force (MATCH) will continue its hard work in identifying, investigating, and bringing forward for prosecution individuals such as Mustafa who prey on others in such a violent manner.”

According to the indictment and evidence presented during trial: Mustafa and co-defendant Wallace recruited and enticed young women via advertisements on Internet sites such as Craigslist.com and Backpage.com, luring them into prostitution in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Once Mustafa and Wallace began working with the women, however, they physically assaulted many of the victims, prevented them from leaving hotels or apartments, and forced them to engage in commercial sex acts.

During trial, the government presented evidence that two victims were bound with duct tape and placed in a closet. These victims, still bound with duct tape, were ultimately taken against their will to Homewood, Alabama, for the purpose of having sex with men. Other victims were forced to have sex with men and all the money earned by the victims was required to be turned over to Mustafa and Wallace. According to the evidence, one victim had a gun pointed at her head and was ordered to remove her clothes and stand naked in a corner of the room. Other women were forced to inhale a white powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine. Two victims were handcuffed to the bed to keep them from leaving.

The evidence also showed that Mustafa communicated via text messaging with a young girl whom he believed to be 14 years old. In those text messages, he instructed the juvenile to send him photos of herself. Once Mustafa saw the photos, he told the juvenile that she could be his sex slave, and he went to the juvenile’s home to pick her up. The juvenile left her home by tying bed sheets together and climbing out the window. Fortunately, Mustafa let the young girl go in a subdivision close to her home.

Mustafa and Wallace also took the identification, telephones, and wallets of some of the victims, with the purpose of making the victims feel trapped. After one victim escaped, Mustafa and Wallace kept her identification and used it to rent hotel rooms and a house.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the FBI’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Atlanta Police Department, the Cobb County Police Department, the Fulton County Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the City of Marietta Police Department, and the Sandy Springs Police Department. Other departments that assisted in the investigation are the Holly Springs Police Department, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Clayton County Police Department, and the Homewood (Alabama) Police Department.

The United States Attorney’ Office maintains information and resources about human trafficking on its website at http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/community/humantrafficking/index.html. If anyone has any information about any human trafficking case, they are encouraged to report that information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 404-679-9000.

Assistant United States Attorneys Yonette Buchanan, Nekia S. Hackworth, and Susan Coppedge prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.Pressemails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

Robbery of Fifth Third Bank in Atlanta

ATLANTA—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Brian D. Lamkin, FBI Atlanta, along with Chief George N. Turner, Atlanta Police Department, requests the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the individuals responsible for today’s armed robbery of the Fifth Third Bank branch located at 2555 Piedmont Road in Atlanta, Georgia.

On Thursday, August 9, 2012, at approximately 3:50 p.m., two black males entered the Fifth Third Bank branch at 2555 Piedmont Road, Suite 110 in Atlanta, Georgia, and announced a robbery. One of the robbers was displaying a silver or gray semi-automatic handgun. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, both robbers fled on foot.

The first robber, displaying a handgun, is described as a black male, late teens or early 20s in age, 5’9”-5’10” in height, slender build, wearing a red ball cap and a dark colored, hooded-style jacket. The second robber is described as a black male, early 20s in age, medium build, wearing a dark- or black-colored jacket.

Anyone with information on this robbery or these individuals should contact the Atlanta Office FBI at (404) 679-9000.

Jury Convicts Man Who Operated a Sex Trafficking Ring

ATLANTA—After an eight-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Soloman Manasseh Mustafa, 38, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, for operating a sex trafficking ring in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Mustafa was known for committing violent sexual acts against his victims; binding them with duct tape; taking their identification; and committing other atrocities in order to hold them captive. The jury found Mustafa guilty of sex trafficking, kidnapping, transporting women across state lines for prostitution, document servitude, and enticement of a minor for sexual activity. Mustafa and his co-defendant Kalandra Annette Wallace, 25, of Jonesboro, Georgia, were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 10, 2011. Wallace pleaded guilty on October 11, 2011, and testified against Mustafa.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “This defendant brutally assaulted young women to force them into acts of prostitution in three states. While all of the victims managed to escape from the defendant, many were beaten, raped, handcuffed, and forced to snort cocaine by the defendant and his co-conspirator. Now, he faces a lengthy sentence in federal prison.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “Combating human trafficking begins with an aggressive investigation and culminates with a relentless prosecution. Today’s guilty verdict in one of the most heinous human trafficking matters to be addressed in this region is most heartfelt by those directly involved. The FBI is proud of the role that it played in removing an individual such as Mr. Mustafa from the streets where he preyed on and exploited these vulnerable women, to include juveniles.”

According to the indictment and evidence presented during trial: Mustafa and co-defendant Wallace recruited and enticed young women via advertisements on Internet sites such as Craigslist and Backpage, luring them into prostitution in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Mustafa and Wallace physically assaulted many of the victims, preventing them from leaving hotels or apartments and forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts.

During trial, the government presented evidence that two victims were bound with duct tape and placed in a closet. These victims, still bound with duct tape, were ultimately taken against their will to Homewood, Alabama, for the purpose of having sex with men. Other victims were forced to have sex with men, and all the money earned by the victims was required to be turned over to Mustafa and Wallace. According to the evidence, one victim had a gun pointed at her head and was ordered to remove her clothes and stand naked in a corner of the room. Other women were forced to inhale a white powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine. Two victims were handcuffed to the bed to keep them from leaving.

The evidence also showed that Mustafa communicated via text messaging with a young girl whom he believed to be 14 years old. In those text message,s he instructed the juvenile to send him photos of herself. Once Mustafa saw the photos, he told the juvenile that she could be his sex slave, and he went to the juvenile’s home to pick her up. The juvenile left her home by tying bed sheets together and climbing out the window. Fortunately, Mustafa let the young girl go in a subdivision close to her home.

Mustafa and Wallace also took the identification, telephones, and wallets of some of the victims, with the purpose of making the victims feel trapped. After one victim escaped, Mustafa and Wallace kept her identification and used it to rent hotel rooms and a house.

The sex trafficking, kidnapping, and enticement of a minor charges each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Sentencing has been set for September 19, 2012, at 10 a.m. before United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr.

If anyone has any information about any human trafficking case, they are encouraged to report that information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 404-679-9000.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the FBI’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Atlanta Police Department, the Cobb County Police Department, the Fulton County Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the City of Marietta Police Department, and the Sandy Springs Police Department. Other departments that assisted in the investigation are the Holly Springs Police Department; the DeKalb County Police Department; the Clayton County Police Department; and the Homewood, Alabama Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Yonette Buchanan and Nekia S. Hackworth are prosecuting the case.

Undercover Firearms Investigation Nets More Than 60 Federal and State Arrests, 270 Illegal Firearms Taken Off the Streets

U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, APD, U.S. Marshals, and Fulton County DA’s Office join efforts in “Operation Trapdoor”

 ATLANTA — Federal and state law enforcement officials today announced the takedown of a long–term storefront sting operation designed to focus on illegal gun trafficking in Atlanta, which resulted in the arrest of over 60 defendants and federal charges against 40 of those defendants on federal firearms and drug trafficking charges.

The undercover operation targeted gang members, drug dealers and convicted felons who were illegally possessing or selling firearms. The case was announced at a press conference held this afternoon at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in Atlanta by Sally Quillian Yates, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; Scott Sweetow, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Gabriel Banks, Fulton County Deputy District Attorney; Deputy Chief John Dalton of the Atlanta Police Department; and Chris Atwater, Assistant Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Georgia.

Meanwhile, federal defendants indicted as part of the operation appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield III. The defendants arrested on state charges will make appearances in state court at a later date.

United States Attorney Yates said, “This was a proactive approach by law enforcement to get guns out of the hands of criminals and immediately make our neighborhoods safer as a result. ATF and APD focused on communities most affected by violent criminals and took nearly 300 guns from the hands of criminals. The defendants thought it was business as usual, but today they discovered that this law enforcement community is acting together to disrupt the flow of guns to criminals.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Scott Sweetow said, “As the criminal element become more sophisticated in their trade, so must the tactics employed by the law enforcement community. Long-term undercover investigations like the ‘Operation Trap Door’ storefront are a powerful tool in targeting armed violent criminals. This 14-month investigation culminating with today’s arrests show the powerful partnership between ATF and the Atlanta Police Department.”

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. said, “Gangs, drugs and guns remain a serious problem in Fulton County. We are grateful to the federal authorities for their continued assistance in combating this criminal activity. Because of our joint efforts, Fulton County is a safer community.”

Atlanta Police Chief George N. Turner said, “I’m proud of the participation by the brave Atlanta police officers who played a key role in this critical operation. Just as importantly, I’m proud of our partnership with ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marshals, and the Fulton District Attorney. Only when we come together in a sophisticated operation of this magnitude will we be able to make a true impact on crimes that are equally broad in scope.”

United States Marshal Beverly Harvard said, “Gun violence continues to be a significant issue in our communities and law enforcement must use varied approaches to address the issue. This is yet another example of the success that can be achieved when federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors join forces in our efforts to get criminal elements out of our communities.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the indictment and evidence in court: The storefront operation, called “Operation Trapdoor,” featured an undercover business located on Metropolitan Parkway in Atlanta that operated as a cellphone and vehicle alteration business. Undercover agents, posing as store managers and employees, learned about people in the area who were trafficking in firearms and drugs, and weapons traffickers, drug traffickers and convicted felons began approaching the undercover agents to sell guns and drugs.

The storefront was outfitted with audio and video recording equipment that monitored and preserved all the conversations and interactions between the agents and the defendants. All together, agents purchased 270 firearms–45 of which were stolen–as well as illegal narcotics. Nearly all of the defendants indicted on federal charge are felons, and under federal law it is a criminal offense for a felon to possess a firearm.

In some instances the defendants told the undercover agents information that helped solve other crimes. For example, one defendant told the agents that he and others attempted to break into a South Georgia prison to sell contraband and that his partner was caught by law enforcement. That information was turned over to local law enforcement and that defendant will face additional charges in Telfair County, Georgia for this crime. Among those indicted on federal and state charges, 27 of the defendants sold contraband to the undercover agents while they were under state probation or parole.

Contraband taken off the streets during the operation include:

 •• 3, 906 rounds of ammunition

•• 205 handguns

•• 33 Rifles

•• 25 Shotguns

•• 7 Sawed-off Shotguns

•• 2 National Firearms Act Silencers

•• 2 Ballistic Vests

•• 3 Smoke Grenades

•• 12,339 grams of Marijuana with a street value of $40,800.00

•• 633 grams of Cocaine with a street value of $69,630.00

•• 961 grams of Crack Cocaine with a street value of $105,710.00

•• 402 grams of Heroin with a street value of $77,990.00

•• 144 grams of Ecstasy/MDMA with a street value of $7200.00

•• 174 grams of Methamphetamine with a street value of $26,100.00

•• 41 pills of Oxycodone with a street value of $2,050.00

•• 39 pills of Xanax with a street value of $780.00

The federal defendants were indicted on charges ranging from possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of an unregistered sawed–off firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful dealing in firearms without a license, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.

This is the second “storefront” type sting operation that federal and state law enforcement officers have conducted in the past year. On June 29, 2011, agents took down “Operation ATL Blaze,” during which agents operated an undercover smoke shop on Campbellton Road in Southwest Atlanta, and arrested 49 defendants on charges ranging from conspiring to commit a home invasion robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of an unregistered sawed–off rifle, possession of a stolen firearm, and unlawful dealing in firearms without a license. In Operation ATL Blaze, agents seized 257 handguns, 60 rifles, 46 shotguns, and 10 sawed–off shotguns. Of the 35 defendants charged federally, 31 have been convicted, while charges remain pending against two defendants, one defendant has not been arrested, and the charges against one defendant were dismissed.

Those indicted by federal grand juries and arrested today, or already in custody, and their charges include:

•Mohammed Bah 38, Atlanta, GA.

•6 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien,

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base

•8 Counts of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

•3 Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base

•2 Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime

•1 Count of Possession and Sale of a Stolen Firearm

•* maximum statutory penalty of Life

•Elizer Owens, 20, Atlanta, GA.

•2 Counts Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime,

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base

•2 Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base

•1 Count of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

•1 Count of Possession and Sale of a Stolen Firearm

•6 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•* maximum statutory penalty of Life

•Hagie Tunkara, 31, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien,

•2 Counts of Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute

•2 Counts of Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute

•* maximum statutory penalty of 20 years

•Andrew Mccord, III, 27, Clayton County, GA.

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms Without a License,

•2 Counts of Dealing in Firearms Without a License

•* maximum statutory penalty of 5 years

•Brenton Wise, 24, Clayton County, GA.

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms Without a License,

•11 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number

•1 Count of Possession and Sale of a Stolen Firearm

•4 Counts of Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute

•8 Counts of Dealing in Firearms Without a License

•1 Count of Possession of an Unregistered Short Barreled Firearm

•* maximum statutory penalty of 20 years

•Mack Patterson, Jr., 29, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms Without a License

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•1 Count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Nathaniel Andrews, 23, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms Without a License

•4 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number

•4 Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base

•8 Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana

•1 Count Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime

•* maximum statutory penalty of Life

•Cornelius Pierce, 20, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms Without a License

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm in During a Drug Trafficking Crime

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number

•1 Count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by an Individual under Indictment

•* maximum statutory penalty of Life

•Jarod Gore, 23, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count of Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms Without a License

•1 Count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License,

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Ryan Horton, 22, Clayton County, GA.

•5 Counts of Dealing in Firearms Without a License,

•2 Counts of Possession and Sale of a Stolen Firearm

•1 Count of Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute

•* maximum statutory penalty of 20 years

•Charles Carter, 34, Cobb County, GA.

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Will Villarreal, 25, Cobb County, GA.

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Mark G. Young, 43, Cobb County, GA.

•1 Count of Possession of a Destructive Device

•1 Count of Distribution of Explosive Material

•1 Count of Transportation of Explosive Material

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Adrian Stephens, 25, Cobb County, GA.

•1 Count of Distribution of Explosive Material

•1 Count of Transportation of Explosive Material

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Andrew Benford, 27, Atlanta, GA

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•

* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Quintavious Render, 23, Atlanta, GA

•3 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•1 Count of Possession of an Unregistered Sawed–off Firearm,

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Travis Yarbrough, 26, Atlanta, GA

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•2 Counts of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

•2 Counts of Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime

•* maximum statutory penalty of Life

•Brian Bell, 26, Clayton County, GA

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by an Individual under Indictment,

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•Diontaye “Blue” Jordan, 30, hometown not yet identified.

•1 Count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License,

•3 Counts of Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute

•7 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•1 Count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

•* maximum statutory penalty of 20 years

•Howard Craig, 22, Atlanta, GA

•5 Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•1 Count of Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime,

•* maximum statutory penalty of Life

•Dwayne Fields, 22, Clayton County, GA

•1 Count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License,

•1 Count of False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm

•* maximum statutory penalty of 5 years

•Khalif Jackson, 24, Atlanta, GA

•1 Count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License,

•* maximum statutory penalty of 5 years

•Mosezell Kelly, 23, College Park, GA.

•1 Count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License

•* maximum statutory penalty of 5 years

•Christopher “Flaco” Montes, 22, Clayton County, GA

•1 Count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

•1 Count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

•1 Count of Possession of an Unregistered Saw–off Firearm

•* maximum statutory penalty of 20 years

•David “Doper” Salas, 21, Clayton County, GA

•3 Counts of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

•1 Count of Possession of an Unregistered Saw–off Firearm

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

•* maximum statutory penalty of 20 years

•Antwan Lucas, 34, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

•William Wilder, 31, Atlanta, GA.

•1 Count Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

•* maximum statutory penalty of 10 years

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendants’s guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Atlanta Police Department. Assistance in this case has been provided by U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE).

Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Gabay–Smith, Francey Hakes, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Tulani Washington and Luke Jones are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581–6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.