In a report shared by FOX 4 News, the Arlington Police Department has provided details on the case against Anjum Zafar Mian, who has been convicted on 15 counts of federal sex trafficking charges. The 42-year-old Mian, whose sentencing is scheduled for this fall, is facing severe penalties for his involvement in the exploitation of at least five victims, including four teenagers. Shockingly, one of the teenage girls was reported missing by her family, unaware that she had fallen victim to sex trafficking.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, Mian, now confirmed as a convicted sex trafficker, subjected underage girls to threats, physical abuse, drugging, and rape. The criminal complaint filed against him states that Mian used intimidation tactics, implying harm to the victims' families if they refused to comply with his demands.
Sgt. Tarik Muslimovich, leading the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit of the Arlington Police Department, revealed that Mian had at least two accomplices and has been found guilty of trafficking four teenage girls and one adult victim.
The investigation took a significant turn in 2021 when a 16-year-old victim bravely came forward. She approached an Arlington detective who also served as a task force officer with Homeland Security, recounting her encounter with Mian at a club. The complaint states that Mian supplied her with drugs and set a daily monetary quota for her involvement in commercial sex activities, starting at $500 per day and escalating to an alarming $2,000 per day.
"We believe that all of our victims were credible," expressed Sgt. Muslimovich, highlighting the importance of taking victims' accounts seriously and providing them with support.
During a harrowing four-month period in 2020, the 16-year-old victim disclosed that Mian transported her to various hotels and residences across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while her concerned mother had filed a missing persons report.
Further investigation revealed that Mian exploited the internet to facilitate his criminal activities. He created online sex advertisements using the victim's photos, which were later discovered by law enforcement authorities. Police underscored the internet's prevalence as a platform for traffickers to identify and target vulnerable victims.
Sgt. Muslimovich urged parents to be vigilant in protecting their children, particularly on social media platforms. He emphasized the need to monitor their online activities, exercise control over their cell phones, and establish appropriate boundaries to minimize the risk of falling prey to predators.
Anjum Zafar Mian's sentencing is scheduled for October, and he potentially faces a life sentence in prison for his abhorrent crimes. The case serves as a stark warning to parents and teenagers about the modus operandi of predators like Mian, highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant and taking necessary precautions when encountering individuals in places such as clubs.
