FARGO — In a gritty victory for justice, Anthony Donte Collier, also known as Koleone the Great, was found guilty of sex trafficking and related charges after an intense 11½-day trial in North Dakota. The Illinois resident was sentenced to face the music for his despicable actions.
The saga began when Collier’s probation officer stumbled upon a disturbing image on the defendant’s Facebook page — a woman on her knees, adorned in lingerie, with a dog collar around her neck. This discovery led law enforcement to investigate Collier’s activities, leading to the seizure of his cell phone which harbored images of several women, including a 17-year-old girl. The same photos were found on backpage.com under the “Escort” section.
Further investigation revealed that Collier used his cellphone to purchase Bitcoin, which was then used to buy advertisements for sex trafficking on backpage.com. Among the victims identified and interviewed were five women who disclosed harrowing accounts of sexual assault and coercion in both Moorhead and Fargo. One victim was even subjected to having urine poured upon her to force compliance.
“Anthony Collier trafficked five victims into sexual slavery, including a 17-year-old girl,” Special Agent in Charge Alex Khu of HSI St. Paul stated. “His actions have forever changed the lives of these victims, but they and the community can take some comfort knowing he is facing a lengthy prison term.” The sentencing for Collier has been scheduled for July 24, 2017.
The Moorhead Police Department, Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant US Attorneys Jennifer Puhl and Brett Shasky prosecuted the case with assistance from the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force (NDHTTF). This task force is a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, victim service providers, and organizations dedicated to combating human trafficking.
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Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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