Northern District of Texas | Child Sex Trafficker Convicted At Trial

A DeSoto man who drugged young girls and then forced them into commercial sex was convicted Wednesday evening of 15 counts related to sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Anjum Zafar Mian, 42, was charged via criminal complaint in December 2022 and indicted in March 2023. After two days of trial and an hour and a half of deliberation, a jury convicted him Wednesday of two counts of sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; two counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; four counts of sex trafficking of a minor; three counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor; two counts of sexual exploitation of a child; one count of transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution; and one count of interstate transportation for prostitution.

“This man threatened, beat, drugged, and raped these girls – mere children – so that he could make money. That is the horrific truth of human trafficking, and it’s happening in our backyard,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “These victims are hiding in plain sight. Please, if you suspect trafficking, reach out to law enforcement. The Justice Department will not rest until the invisible chains of trafficking are broken.”

“Successfully removing child predators from our communities is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “During the trial, the courageous testimony of the minors abused by this defendant ensured that he will account for his actions. Today’s verdict stands as a strong message that HSI will never relent in the pursuit of those who exploit children.“   

According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Mian forced at least two young girls – ages 16 and 17 – to engage in commercial sex by intimating that he would harm their family if they did not comply.

He brought another 17 year old down from Oklahoma, would not allow her to go back home when she asked, and made her engage in commercial sex.

He also attempted to traffick an adult woman from Oklahoma, who called the police after he assaulted her.

The victims testified that Mr. Mian, who also went by the “AJ” and “Dre,” used explicit photos of them to advertise their sexual service online. He communicated with customers via TextNow and Google, then plied the girls with drugs and alcohol, delivered them to customers, and demanded they turn all proceeds over to him.

On multiple occasions, Mr. Mian raped them while they were unconscious, victims testified.

Mr. Mian now faces up to life in federal prison. He is set to be sentenced on Friday, Oct. 13 in Fort Worth.

The Arlington Police Department conducted the investigation in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office and with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, DeSoto Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety. This was a North Texas Trafficking Task Force case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandie Wade and Matthew Weybrecht are prosecuted. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor presided over trial.

If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, call local law enforcement or the 24/7 confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.