Feds Break Up Human Trafficking Ring in Minnesota, Tennessee

Nearly 30 Somali immigrants named in indictment

Updated: Monday, 08 Nov 2010, 9:44 PM CST
Published : Monday, 08 Nov 2010, 9:06 AM CST

by Tom Lyden / FOX 9 News

MINNEAPOLIS - In a series of arrests carried out Monday morning in the Twin Cities and Nashville, Tennessee, federal and local authorities broke up a human trafficking ring that provided underage prostitutes.

A federal indictment unsealed Monday morning in Nashville details the sex trafficking operations of 29 Somali men and women tied to the Somali Outlaws, Somali Mafia and Lady Outlaws gangs, which are all connected and based in Minneapolis. Of the 29 indicted, 12 were arrested Monday morning in the Twin Cities, eight in Nashville and six were already in jail in various locations. Three remain at-large and wanted.

Word of the activities of the ring first became public in September, when investigators sought the phone records of a 15-year-old girl who was a prostitute for the ring.

According to the indictment, one of the intentions of the three groups is to “identify, recruit and obtain” girls under 14 and girls under 18 for prostitution. The sex ring operated between 2000 and 2010 in Minneapolis, Nashville, and Columbus, Ohio.

“Trafficking children for sex is intolerable and the Department of Justice will aggressively enforce trafficking and other laws to eliminate these types of deplorable acts,” said U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin. “As shown here today, law enforcement agencies at every level will come together to bring the full force of justice to bear on individuals who choose to profit by victimizing innocent children.”

The indictment details the trafficking and sexual assault of four girls – two under the age of 18 and two aged 13 and under at the time of their recruitment. The girls were allegedly taken between Minneapolis and Nashville, where they were sold for sex and forced to have sex with gang members. One of the victims was also taken to an apartment in Seattle and to Columbus with other girls.

One of the victims detailed in the indictment was picked up from her high school several times and raped in a bathroom at Northtown Mall in Blaine, Minn. and inside an abandoned garage.

During a trip to Nashville, one of the gang members allegedly shot a cell phone video of a victim engaging in sex acts with someone else in the car. He then sent that video to other people.

Most of the prostitution transactions took place in apartments, homes and hotel room in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities metro or Nashville.

The sex trafficking offenses carry a penalty of 15 years to life in prison.

“Human traffickers abuse innocent people, undermine our public safety, and often use their illicit proceeds to fund sophisticated criminal organizations,” said ICE Director John Morton. “ICE is committed to bringing these criminals to justice and rescuing their victims from a life in the shadows. We will continue to fight the battle to end human trafficking both here in the United States and around the globe.”

Those charged in the indictment are identified as:

• Abdifitah Jama Adan, aka “Shorty” aka “Faleebo” aka “Kuzzo,” 28;
• Abdullahi Sade Afyare aka “Forehead,”19;
• Ahmad Abnulnasir Ahmad aka “Fabulous,”23;
• Yahya Jamal Ahmed, 23;
• Abdikarim Osman Ali, aka “Homer” aka “Big Abdi,” 22;
• Musse Ahmed Ali aka “Fat Boy,” 23;
• Hassan Ahmed Dahir aka “Mohamed Ali Hussein,” 21;
• Fadumo Mohamed Farah aka “Naana Naana” aka “Gangster Boo” aka “Barnie,” 25;
• Idris Ibrahim Fahra aka “Chi Town,” 22;
• Yasin Ahmed Farah, 19;
• Abdullahi Hashi aka “Kamal,” 24;
• Fatah Haji Hashi aka “Jerry” aka “Jr,” 23;
• Abdirahman Abdirazak Hersi aka “Biggie,” 20;
• Muhiyadin Hassan Hussein aka “CD,” 22;
• Dahir Nor Ibrahim aka “Dahir Lucky,” 38;
• Abdifatah Bashir Jama aka “Cash Money” aka “Ohio,” 23;
• Andrew Kayachith aka “AK,” 20;
• Abdigadir Ahmed Khalif aka “Awali,” 24;
• Bashir Yasin Mohamud aka “Br,” 26;
• Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed, 22;
• Fuad Faisal Nur aka “Hanjule,” 24;
• Abdifatah Sharif Omar aka “British” aka “Pinky,” 25;
• Liban Sharif Omar aka “Sunderra,” 21;
• Mohamed Sharif Omar aka “Moe D” aka “Mojo,” 26;
• Hamdi Ali Osman aka “Big Hamdi” aka “Boss Lady,” 22;
• Haji Osman Salad aka “Hollywood,” 20;
• Bibi Ahmed Said, 19;
• Ahmed Aweys Sheik aka “Rear Hammer” aka “Abdul,” 24; and
• Yassin Abdirahman Yusuf aka “Junior” aka “Black Cat Junior,” 21.

Feds Break Up Human Trafficking Ring in Minnesota, Tennessee
Source: MyFox Houston