September 11, 2014

Maryland Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Transporting a Minor Across State Lines for Prostitution

RICHMOND, VA—Mustafa Muhammad, 36, of Clinton, Maryland, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for transporting a minor from Maryland to Virginia for prostitution.

Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Payne.

Muhammad was found guilty by a federal jury on June 24, 2014. Evidence at trial established that Muhammad met a 16-year old runaway online in February 2014, and then began communicating with her via text message. Later that month, Muhammad and the juvenile met in person in Maryland, and Muhammad posted an advertisement on backpage.com featuring the juvenile and offering her for prostitution. The juvenile provided Muhammad some of the money she made from prostitution. In March 2014, Muhammad suggested that they travel to Virginia for the juvenile to work in prostitution, and, so, on March 14, 2014, Muhammad drove the juvenile from Maryland to a Holiday Inn in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Muhammad then posted another advertisement on backpage.com in Fredericksburg, advertising the juvenile for prostitution. A Stafford Sheriff’s deputy was looking for possible prostitution activity on backpage.com and discovered the juvenile’s ad. The deputy then arranged to meet the juvenile and discovered that she was a 16-year old runaway.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, and Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Heather L. Hart prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:14-cr-55.