Reputed Members of Da M.O.B. Gang Charged with Sex Trafficking of Minors
Two New Cases Allege that Group of Violent Pimps Raped and Trafficked 14- and 16-Year-Old Girls

ATLANTA—Two men appeared in federal court today in two recently indicted sex trafficking cases in which five men are charged with pimping three 14-year-old and one 16-year-old girls in Atlanta hotels. Two federal indictments, both returned on August 28, 2012, charge members of a gang that called itself Da M.O.B., with raping the girls and forcing them to perform commercial sex acts—in one case, allegedly beating the girl on a daily basis. The two cases are separated based on different victims and different members of the gang who are alleged to have participated in the sex trafficking offenses.

Fabian Terran Murray, also known as “Shooter,” age 25, of Smyrna, Georgia, is charged in both indictments. The first indictment also charges Joshua Thomas Hill, also known as “Cash,” age 24, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Clinton Saintvil, 24, of Miami, Florida, while the second indictment also charges Richard Douglas King, also known as “Ready,” age 25, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Jonathan Christopher Branch, 21, of Atlanta, Georgia. The two indictments charge the defendants with conspiring to engage in sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors. Murray and King also are charged with using a firearm during the commission of sex trafficking of a minor, and Hill is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Murray and Hill appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Justin Anand and were arraigned. King was arraigned on September 7, 2012, while Saintvil and Branch were arraigned on August 30, 2012. All five men remain in custody pending trial.

United States Attorney Sally Yates said, “The charges in this case present harrowing stories of the depravity connected with sex trafficking and prostitution of teenage girls. These defendants allegedly forced children from our community into sexual slavery, even to the point of brutally assaulting a 16-year-old girl and then firing shots at her after she escaped them. And, it’s also important to point out the blame for those who solicit prostitutes from websites, and who visit prostitutes in hotels—they are directly and personally victimizing children who may be forced into prostitution against their will.”

Rick Maxwell, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated that, “The arrest of these individuals and the recovery of their juvenile victims being exploited in such a despicable manner are the results of law enforcement working long hours in a coordinated effort. While there are many success stories of arrests and recoveries such as those found in this case, much work remains within the metropolitan Atlanta area in addressing human trafficking and commercial sex trade issues.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court:

Case 1: U.S. v. Hill, Murray, and Saintvil

The indictment charges that Hill, Murray, and Saintvil met two 14-year-old girls on or about February 19, 2012, and drove the girls to a nearby convenience store where they purchased condoms. Saintvil told the girls that they would be working as prostitutes. After leaving the convenience store, the men drove the two girls to a hotel, where Hill and Murray raped the girls. The men then forced the girls to commit commercial sex acts at various hotels in the Atlanta metro area, soliciting clients for the girls on the Backpage Atlanta website. Saintvil drove the girls to the various locations where the men forced the girls to engage in prostitution.

Cobb County, Georgia, Police Department officers discovered the girls on February 22, 2012, during a search of a hotel room. The girls told police that Hill and Murray were armed during the time that the men forced the girls to commit commercial sex acts. During a search of the hotel room, police officers found and seized a Sig Sauer, .45 caliber pistol. The girls also reported that the men were part of a gang called Da M.O.B.

The indictment further alleges that during this same time, Hill and Saintvil were also causing a third 14-year-old girl to engage in prostitution. Sometime in or about February 2012, Hill engaged in sex acts with the girl, after which he told her that she would be committing commercial sex acts for Hill. When she refused, Hill choked her. Saintvil, who was present during this incident, then began to transport Hill and the girl to various hotels where Hill caused her to engage in prostitution. Marietta, Georgia, Police Department officers found the girl with Hill on February 10, 2012, at a local motel where Hill was causing the child to engage in prostitution. During the time that Hill and Saintvil trafficked the girl, Hill beat her.

The indictment charges Hill, Murray, and Saintvil with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors; sex trafficking of minors; and, in the case of Hill, possession of a firearm while a convicted felon. The sex trafficking conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years, up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The firearm offense, for which Hill alone is charged, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from the Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit, the Marrietta Police Department, and the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

Case 2: U.S. v. Murray, King, and Branch

The second indictment charges that on or about June 30, 2012, Cobb County Police Department officers received a call from a 16-year-old girl who reported that she was being held against her will. A special agent with the FBI and a detective with the Cobb County Crimes Against Children Unit immediately met with the girl, who told the investigators that she met Murray and King in or about May 2012. Murray took the girl to an apartment and soon after began, with King, to force her to engage in commercial sex acts on Fulton Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta, and at various motels.

The men used an Internet advertisement on Backpage Atlanta to solicit clients for the child. Branch drove her to the various locations where Murray and King trafficked her. The girl told law enforcement officers that Murray beat her almost daily. On one occasion, after she tried to escape, Murray raped her while King held her down. And after she finally succeeded in escaping Murray and King, the men encountered the girl in an apartment complex parking lot and fired shots at her. The girl also said that the men were part of a gang called Da M.O.B.

The indictment charges Murray, King, and Branch with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, and sex trafficking of a minor. And, with respect to Murray and King, the indictment also alleges use of a firearm during the sex trafficking of a minor—a crime of violence. The sex trafficking conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years, up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The firearm offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, to be served consecutive to the sex trafficking charge, up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. and Phyllis D. Clerk are prosecuting 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.