By: Richard L. Smith
Two New Jersey residents have been charged with minor trafficking and related offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Federal officials said Daquan McCallum, 30, of Elizabeth, and Destiny Tamarato, 26, of Brick, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with trafficking a minor and conspiracy to engage in trafficking of a minor.
McCallum made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge on Stacey D. Adams on Nov. 19, 2024, and was detained.
Tamarato made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa on Nov. 15, 2024, and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In April 2020, Tamarato was arrested at a motel in Elizabeth with two minor victims after law enforcement located an online advertisement for explicit services and communicated with Tamarato, who agreed to provide explicit services for an agreed-upon price.
Following this arrest and after being advised that one of the victims was underage, Tamarato continued to advertise that victim’s explicit services online.
Tamarato was again arrested for engaging in prostitution with the same victim in April 2021.
Tamarato also introduced the victim to McCallum, who then arranged for the victim to engage in additional commercial explicit work despite knowing that the victim was a minor.
The charges of explicit trafficking of a minor each carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of conspiracy to engage in explicit trafficking of a minor carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.