SIOUX FALLS, SD – Odarie Massiah, 34, of Sioux Falls, will spend the next 27 years and three months behind bars for brutally exploiting a woman for profit. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on June 17, 2024, after a three-day trial that laid bare the extent of Massiah’s depravity.
Massiah was convicted of Sex Trafficking of an Adult by Force and Coercion, a charge stemming from incidents between July 1, 2020, and September 24, 2022. The evidence revealed a calculated scheme where Massiah recruited the victim and then systematically used physical and emotional abuse to control her, forcing her into prostitution. He didn’t just exploit her; he stole from her, demanding she hand over all the money she earned through this forced servitude.
The investigation, spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department, uncovered a pattern of escalating abuse. Massiah wasn’t content with control – he physically assaulted the victim on two separate occasions, strangling her. A warrant was issued for his arrest in Minnehaha County, but Massiah didn’t stick around to face the music. He fled the state with the victim, attempting to further isolate and control her.
Authorities finally apprehended Massiah and the victim in Tennessee in August of 2022. U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell didn’t mince words when discussing the case. “Odarie Massiah went to great lengths to keep this victim engaged in prostitution,” she stated. “He manipulated her; he physically abused her; and he used the money she made through prostitution to support his own lifestyle.” Ramsdell emphasized the office’s unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for victims of these heinous crimes.
Beyond the lengthy prison sentence, Massiah will also serve five years of supervised release after his incarceration. He was also ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a paltry sum compared to the damage he inflicted. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey C. Clapper and Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb successfully prosecuted the case, bringing a measure of closure to a horrific ordeal.
Massiah was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of human trafficking and the relentless work of law enforcement to bring predators like Massiah to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against human trafficking in South Dakota and beyond.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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