FARGO – Acting United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter D. Welte sentenced Harleigh Josette Haugen, age 20, Fargo, ND, to 45 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Robbery. Chief Judge Welte also sentenced Haugen to 3 years supervised release and a $100.00 Special Assessment.
Investigation revealed that from May and continuing through June 2019, Haugen and Jordan Daniel Kraft, age 21, Fargo, ND, conspired with a group of young males and females to rob customers of commercial sex. Haugen, Kraft and others posted advertisements on “Skip the Games” promoting prostitution with adult women. The defendants sought to take advantage of a group of commercial sex customers whom they believed would be unwilling to go to law enforcement if they were robbed. The defendants arranged to meet the victims in their private residences and in local apartments controlled by the defendants. Using dangerous weapons, the defendants robbed the commercial sex customers by threats of force and violence, and in some instances the victims were physically assaulted by the defendants before they were robbed.
“This case and sentencings sends a strong message that violent crime in our community will not be tolerated,” said Acting United States Attorney Nick Chase, “and the US Attorney’s Office, along with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue efforts through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood program to reduce violent crime and eliminate brutal criminals from our community.”
“We encourage anyone who is a victim of a crime to report it and allow law enforcement officials to investigate, no matter the circumstances,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt, of HSI St. Paul. “Individuals engaged in violent criminal activity in our communities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and brought to justice.”
Several of Haugen’s co-defendants were indicted in North Dakota and pleaded guilty:
• JORDAN DANIEL KRAFT, age 21, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Robbery, pending sentencing.
• SHELTON LEE MOSEBY, IV, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• TEAJAHA SHANETTE LAYSHA GRANDER, age 24, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• TATYANNA DESHUAN GRANDER, age 21, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• TEON TYRIK BERRY, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• ZACHARY RONZELL MITCHELL, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, pending sentencing.
• JACOBY RASHAWN LEE, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence—Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 84 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release..
This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Homeland Security Investigation and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Puhl assigned to the case.
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