Shahid Hassan Muslim, Sex Trafficking, North Carolina 2013

A federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina has convicted Shahid Hassan Muslim, aka ‘Sharp,’ of two counts of sex trafficking, one count of kidnapping, one count of production of child pornography, one count of witness tampering and five counts of promoting a prostitution business enterprise.

The verdict was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins for the Western District of North Carolina, Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Charlotte Division and Special Agent in Charge Brock Nicholson of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Division.

Evidence presented during the four-day trial, including the testimony of five victims, revealed that Muslim had operated an extensive sex trafficking enterprise in Charlotte, North Carolina and other cities between at least 2010 and the time of his arrest in November 2013.

Muslim recruited young women and girls from the Charlotte area, some as young as 16 years old, and advertised them for prostitution on the internet. He recruited them using the idea that they would be part of a family when they had none. Muslim demanded all of their money and used extreme violence to control the young women and girls.

As one witness explained, Muslim never hit the victims in the face because it would damage his ‘merchandise.’

The evidence further showed that Muslim kidnapped one of the victims and brutally beat her after she left and reported him to the police. Witnesses testified that he lured her to a hotel pretending to be a prostitution customer. When she arrived, Muslim attacked her while dressed in black and wearing a mask in the shape of a skull. He shoved her into a trunk and had her transported to his house, where he handcuffed her and bound her feet and continued to beat her.

Muslim then put the victim in the shower, while still handcuffed, turned on the cold water, and left her overnight. Ultimately, she managed to escape and flee to a neighbor’s home for help.

‘This defendant targeted vulnerable young women and girls and exploited them for his own profit, using a brutal scheme of power and control,’ said Acting Assistant Attorney General Moran.

‘Muslim preyed upon young and vulnerable women, and with the promise of a better life, he lured them into his criminal enterprise,’ said U.S. Attorney Tompkins. ‘Once in, Muslim used unspeakable violence to control and exploit these women and girls for his financial gain.’

‘Shahid Hassan Muslim promised his victims the loving support of a family, instead he controlled them through beatings, fear, and intimidation,’ said Special Agent in Charge Strong. ‘Sex trafficking victims are traumatized and may be unsure of where to turn for help.’

The defendant’s control over the women and girls extended to when he was in custody on both state and federal charges. He convinced the victim involved in the kidnapping to submit a false affidavit declaring his innocence to state authorities, which resulted in the dismissal of those charges. He further harassed a victim in the federal case to submit a false affidavit taking ownership of a sexually explicit video that he produced of her when she was only 16 years old.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant/Respondent: Shahid Hassan Muslim

Criminal Charges: Two counts of sex trafficking, one count of kidnapping, one count of production of child pornography, one count of witness tampering and five counts of promoting a prostitution business enterprise

City and State: Charlotte, North Carolina

Exact Date: 2010-2013 (timeframe of operation) and November 2013 (time of arrest)

Sentence or Outcome: Convicted

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