By: Richard L. Smith
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Newark man was arraigned today on charges of sex trafficking and prostitution-related offenses.
According to federal officials, Mr. Amin Sharif, 48, of Newark, is charged in a five-count indictment with one count of attempted transportation of a victim with intent to engage in prostitution, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of use of an interstate facility to promote unlawful activity, one count of transporting a victim with intent to engage in prostitution, and one count of persuading a victim to travel to engage in prostitution.
Sharif was previously charged by criminal complaint in January 2022 on charges of sex trafficking and is detained.
He was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court and entered a plea of not guilty.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Since January 2021, law enforcement has been investigating Sharif for transporting and attempting to transport women and minors from various states to New Jersey and elsewhere for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts and other illicit conduct.
Sharif used several social media platforms and profiles to recruit women and minors to engage in sex acts for money.
He advertised women and at least one underage girl online for commercial sex acts.
The indictment charges Sharif with conduct related to four different victims.
The sex trafficking of a minor charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The transporting victim with intent to engage in prostitution charges each carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and the persuading a victim to travel to engage in prostitution charge carries a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison.
The use of an interstate facility to promote unlawful activity charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each count also carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.