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.

Former Fulton County Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison for Public Corruption and Drug Trafficking

Dingle Accepted Bribes to Smuggle Contraband into Fulton County Jail

ATLANTA—A former Fulton County Deputy Sheriff who accepted bribes of more than $2,000 to distribute cocaine inside and outside the Fulton County Jail was sentenced today by United States District Amy Totenberg to serve 41 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates of the Northern District of Georgia. Marvie Trevino Dingle, Jr., 36, of Lithonia, Georgia, had previously pleaded guilty on November 8, 2011, to attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and to accepting bribes to facilitate cocaine distribution.

“This former deputy sheriff is headed to prison because he chose to profit from the illegal drug trade instead of protecting and serving the people of Fulton County,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “He used his uniform and badge to make money by delivering drugs to inmates at the jail and to protect a significant cocaine transaction on the streets. This breach of public trust is damaging to our community and to our many honest, hardworking law enforcement officers.”

“It’s unfortunate to law enforcement when the badge is being sold out for personal gain,” said Fulton County Sheriff Theodore Jackson. “The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office continues to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office to rid corruption from the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office. This does not reflect upon the majority of employees who are dedicated, hardworking, loyal, and honest.”

Dingle’s 41-month prison sentence will be followed by supervised release for two years.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: On March 21, 2011, Dingle, while employed as a deputy sheriff at the Fulton County Jail, accepted $700 from an undercover agent to deliver seven grams of a substance he believed to be cocaine to an inmate inside the jail. On April 22, 2011, Dingle accepted $1,500 from an undercover agent to assist in delivering a kilogram of a substance he believed to be cocaine to a man in the Dunwoody area.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Brent Alan Gray prosecuted the case.

Former Fulton County Detention Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Public Corruption and Drug Trafficking

Jailer Accepted Bribes to Distribute Multiple Kilos of Cocaine

ATLANTA—BRIAN SHELBY ANTHONY, 31, of Atlanta was sentenced today by United States District Judge Steve C. Jones to serve 10 years in federal prison on charges of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and to accepting bribes of more than $26,000 to facilitate the distribution of drugs inside the county jail and at other locations in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This former law enforcement officer sold his badge over and over again without any regard for his oath of office or the public’s safety. He took advantage of his position to make money accepting bribes to deliver marijuana and other contraband to inmates and to put cocaine on the streets of Atlanta. This repeated criminal activity is the opposite of what we expect from our police officers, most of whom would never trade the public’s trust for a payoff.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “Today’s sentencing helps the FBI convey the message that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated. While former Fulton County Detention Officer Anthony’s main motivation may have been greed, his illegal actions also compromised the safety and integrity of the detention facility and those within it, to include his fellow officers.”

Fulton County Sheriff Theodore “Ted” Jackson said, “The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office continues to offer full cooperation to the FBI regarding investigations that included Mr. Anthony. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the dedication of the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI as they pursue corruption cases.”

ANTHONY was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. ANTHONY was convicted of these charges on January 20, 2012 upon his plea of guilty.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court, on February 18, 2011, ANTHONY, while employed as a detention officer at the Fulton County Jail, accepted $950 from an individual working with the FBI in an undercover capacity to deliver an ounce of a material he believed to be marijuana, four cellular telephones, and cigarettes to a specific inmate inside the jail. Again, on April 19, 2011, ANTHONY accepted $1,000 to deliver another ounce of material he believed to be marijuana, three cellular telephones, and cigarettes to the same inmate. On each occasion, after accepting the bribes, ANTHONY made the deliveries to the inmate as planned. The contraband was then collected by investigators.

In the weeks between April 19, 2011 and May 4, 2011, an FBI undercover agent spoke with ANTHONY about protecting drug deals outside of the jail. ANTHONY expressed interest and agreed to provide protection for cocaine deliveries. On three occasions between May 4, 2011 and June 2, 2011, ANTHONY, dressed in his Fulton County Sheriff’s Office uniform, provided protection for undercover transactions which he believed to be drug deals involving multiple kilograms of cocaine. The transactions occurred in Atlanta, Lawrenceville, and Norcross. ANTHONY agreed to protect each drug deal in exchange for a cash payment and accepted three bribes totaling $25,000.

ANTHONY is one of four Fulton County law enforcement officers recently convicted in federal court for similar conduct.

■On November 29, 2011, former Detention Officer Akil Scott, 32, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine inside the county jail and two counts of extortion under color of official right for accepting $650 to smuggle drugs into the jail. Scott is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. on March 30, 2012.

■On November 8, 2011, former Deputy Sheriff Marvie Trevino Dingle, Jr., 34, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine inside and outside the county jail and two counts of extortion under color of official right for accepting more than $2,000 to smuggle drugs into the jail and to protect a drug transaction outside of the jail. Dingle is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Amy Totenberg on April 3, 2012.

■On October 24, 2011, former Detention Officer Derick Deshun Frazier, 32, of Stockbridge, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of extortion under color of official right for accepting $300 to smuggle mobile telephones into the county jail. On January 11, 2012, Frazier was sentenced by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans to a six-month term of imprisonment to be followed by a two-year period of supervised release.

These cases were investigated by special agents of the FBI.

Assistant United States Attorney Brent Alan Gray prosecuted these cases.

Former Fulton County Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Public Corruption and Drug Trafficking Charges

Dingle is Second Jail Employee to Be Convicted Recently in Federal Court of Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Contraband into County Jail

ATLANTA—Former Fulton County Deputy Sheriff MARVIE TREVINO DINGLE, JR., 34, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and to accepting bribes of more than $2,000 to facilitate the distribution of cocaine inside and outside the Fulton County Jail.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Instead of protecting the public, this former deputy sheriff chose to sell his badge to protect drug deals. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who tarnish the badge of honest, hard-working law enforcement officers.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, said, “Public corruption investigations such as this continue to be a priority for the FBI due to the immense harm that can be caused from those that choose to disregard their sworn oaths. The FBI continues to work with its various law enforcement partners in such matters to further ensure that the public’s trust in its law enforcement community is not eroded by such individuals as Mr. Dingle.”

Fulton County Sheriff Theodore “Ted” Jackson said, “This sends a strong message that corrupt activity will not be tolerated at the Fulton County Jail. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is giving full cooperation to the FBI as agents continue their work. This investigation is vital to ensuring the safety and security of inmates and employees.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: On March 21, 2011, DINGLE, while employed as a deputy sheriff at the Fulton County Jail, accepted $700 from an undercover agent to deliver seven grams of a substance he believed to be cocaine to an inmate inside the jail. On April 22, 2011, DINGLE accepted $1,500 from an undercover agent to assist in delivering a kilogram of a substance he believed to be cocaine to a man in the Dunwoody area.

DINGLE was indicted in June, 2011 on two counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of extortion under color of official right. He pleaded guilty to all counts of his indictment. He could receive a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000,000 for the drug offenses and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the extortion offenses. 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.

DINGLE is the second former Fulton County law enforcement officer to recently plead guilty in federal court. On October 24, 2011, former Detention Officer DERICK DESHUN FRAZIER, 32, of Stockbridge, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of extortion under color of official right for accepting $300 to smuggle mobile telephones into the county jail.

Sentencing for DINGLE is scheduled for January 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Amy Totenberg.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Brent Alan Gray is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is Justice.gov/usao/gan.