It took a federal court jury in Dallas just 90 minutes to convict a DeSoto man of 15 charges connected to child sex trafficking. Now that conviction could land him behind bars for life.
Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Anjum Zafar Mian was charged via criminal complaint in December 2022 and indicted in March 2023. On Wednesday a jury convicted him of two counts of sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; two counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; four counts of sex trafficking of a minor; three counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor; two counts of sexual exploitation of a child; one count of transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution; and one count of interstate transportation for prostitution.
At the trial, two victims testfied about lives that were terrifying. They were abducted by Mian and forced into prostitution when they were just teenagers. The two victims, ages 16 and 17, were drugged and kept by Mian, and given alcohol and drugs before they were sent out for commercial sex.
The 17-year old, who was from Oklahoma, was warned if she tried to escape, Mian would attack her family.
Mian also attempted to traffick an adult woman from Oklahoma, who called the police after he assaulted her.
“This man threatened, beat, drugged, and raped these girls – mere children – so that he could make money. That is the horrific truth of human trafficking, and it’s happening in our backyard,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “These victims are hiding in plain sight. Please, if you suspect trafficking, reach out to law enforcement. The Justice Department will not rest until the invisible chains of trafficking are broken.”
Mian now faces up to life in federal prison. He is set to be sentenced on Friday, Oct. 13 in Fort Worth.
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