U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today the arraignment of Amin Sharif, a 48-year-old man from Essex County, New Jersey, on charges of sex trafficking and prostitution-related offenses.Sharif, of Newark, was charged in a five-count indictment that includes 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. He was previously charged in January 2022 with sex trafficking and has been detained since. Sharif appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court today, where he entered a plea of not guilty.According to documents and statements provided in court, Sharif has been under investigation by law enforcement since January 2021. He is accused of transporting and attempting to transport women and minors from various states to New Jersey and elsewhere for commercial sex acts and other illicit conduct.
Sharif allegedly used several social media platforms and profiles to recruit individuals for these activities and advertised at least one underage girl online for commercial sex acts. The indictment specifically relates to conduct involving four different victims.The charges against Sharif carry severe penalties. The sex trafficking of a minor charge mandates a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, with a maximum of life imprisonment.
Charges related to transporting victims with intent to engage in prostitution can result in up to 30 years in prison each, while the charge of persuading a victim to travel to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 60 years. The charge for using an interstate facility to promote unlawful activity comes with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each count may also result in a fine of up to $250,000.