Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Human Trafficking of a Child

FARGO - U. S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on Jan. 25, 2016, Anthony Lamarr Sims, 21, a.k.a. Mar Mar, Minneapolis, Minn., pled guilty before U. S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson to one count of Sex Trafficking of Children.

This case came to the attention of law enforcement after a Fargo Police Officer encountered the 15-year-old victim during a traffic stop on January 16, 2015.   Following an investigation, it was discovered that Sims brought the victim from Minneapolis to Fargo for the purpose of prostitution.  Before he traveled to Fargo on January 15, 2015, Sims directed others to post an advertisement on backpage.com wherein it was advertised that there were women available for commercial sex. 

Sentencing has tentatively been set for April 18, 2016, at the U. S. District Court in Fargo. Sims could face a 10-year mandatory-minimum but up to a life sentence, lifetime supervised release, and/or a $250,000 fine.

This case is being investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the nation, Project Safe Childhood, in conjunction with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), help federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces engaging in proactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions. Project Safe Childhood also helps to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.