Two women and a man are charged with human trafficking for allegedly running a prostitution ring using teenager
From left, Antwanaiah Barnhill, and Sameerah Williams, both 19, and Ibn Shabazz, 26, are charged with human trafficking for allegedly recruiting underage girls for a prostitution ring. (Union County Prosecutor's Office) ELIZABETH -- Two women and a man face charges of recruiting teenage girls for a prostitution ring, setting up the girls for "dates" with men at motels across Union County, authorities said.
Ibn Shabazz, 26, of East Orange; Sameerah Williams, 19, of Newark; and Antwanajah Barnhill, 19, of Irvington, are being held on charges of human trafficking, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park announced Tuesday.
Park did not say how many victims were identified or give their ages.
All three suspects were arrested May 27 at the Airport Hotel Inn and Suites in Elizabeth, Park said.
She said the arrest resulted from a seven-week investigation by the prosecutor's office's Special Victims Unit.
"Crimes of this nature are particularly horrific because they involve the manipulation of vulnerable underage victims," Park said. "We hope these charges send a strong message to any of those who would even think about engaging in such abhorrent criminal conduct."
Investigators discovered the three defendants recruited several underage girls to perform sex acts with clients at motels in several municipalities across Union County, authorities said.
They said the investigators found numerous registrations at those motels that were booked by the suspects, who would allegedly set up advertisements that sometimes featured photos of their girl victims on the "escorts" section of backpage.com, a classified ads website.
When a client contacted a listed number in the ads, authorities said, the defendants would answer, arrange a meeting, and then send messages to the victims using one of several web applications.
The girls were told where to go and when, how long their "date" would be, and how much to charge for their services, the prosecutor said.
Shabazz and Williams were charged with two counts each of of first-degree human trafficking, and first-degree human trafficking by purchasing advertising for a commercial sex act featuring a depiction of a minor.
They also face two counts of first-degree promoting prostitution of a child under the age of 18, two counts of second-degree human trafficking, and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Barnhill was charged with single counts of first-degree human trafficking, first-degree promoting prostitution of a child under age of 18, second-degree human trafficking, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Shabazz is being held on $500,000 bail, Williams on $200,000 bail and Barnhill on $150,000 bail.
Investigators are still trying to identify and locate other victims, and ask that anybody with information call Sgt. Patricia Gusmano at (908) 965-3877.
The prosecutor did not say exactly how many victims had already been identified, or give ages of those victims, except to say they are all under age 18.
First-degree crimes carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison upon conviction.
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