NJ Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking Minor, Prostitution Charges

Federal authorities say an Essex County man was arraigned on Friday on charges of sex trafficking and prostitution-related offenses.

48-year-old Amin Sharif of Newark is charged in a five-count indictment with,

• Attempted transportation of a victim with intent to engage in prostitution
• Sex trafficking of a minor
• Use of an interstate facility to promote unlawful activity
• Transporting a victim with intent to engage in prostitution
• Persuading a victim to travel to engage in prostitution

Sharif was previously charged by criminal complaint in January 2022 on charges of sex trafficking and is detained.

According to court documents,

Since January 2021, law enforcement has been investigating Sharif for transporting and attempting to transport women and minors from various states to New Jersey and elsewhere for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts and other illicit conduct. Sharif used several social media platforms and profiles to recruit women and minors to engage in sex acts for money. He advertised women and at least one underage girl online for commercial sex acts. The indictment charges Sharif with conduct related to four different victims.

The charges that Sharif is facing could land him behind bars for decades with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI with the investigation leading to the charges against Sharif.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.