North Dakota woman sentenced following ICE HSI investigation for string of violent robberies

FARGO, N.D. – An eastern North Dakota woman was sentenced Monday to 45 months in federal prison for her role in a string of robberies committed under the guise of offering commercial sex.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fargo Police Department.

Harleigh Josette Haugen, 20, of Fargo, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter D. Welte to 45 months for conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery. Chief Judge Welte also sentenced Haugen to three years supervised release, and a $100.00 Special Assessment.

An investigation of the matter revealed that from May through June 2019, Haugen and Jordan Daniel Kraft, 21, also of Fargo, conspired with a group of young males and females to rob customers of commercial sex. Haugen, Kraft and others posted advertisements on "Skip the Games" promoting prostitution with adult women.

The defendants sought to take advantage of a group of commercial sex customers whom they believed would be unwilling to go to law enforcement if they were robbed. The defendants arranged to meet the victims in their private residences and in local apartments controlled by the defendants. Using dangerous weapons, the defendants robbed the commercial sex customers by threats of force and violence, and in some instances the victims were physically assaulted by the defendants before they were robbed.

"This case and sentencings sends a strong message that violent crime in our community will not be tolerated," said Acting United States Attorney Nick Chase, "and the US Attorney’s Office, along with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue efforts through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood program to reduce violent crime and eliminate brutal criminals from our community."

Several of Haugen’s co-defendants were indicted in North Dakota and have previously pleaded guilty:

• JORDAN DANIEL KRAFT, age 21, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Robbery, pending sentencing.
• SHELTON LEE MOSEBY, IV, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• TEAJAHA SHANETTE LAYSHA GRANDER, age 24, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• TATYANNA DESHUAN GRANDER, age 21, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• TEON TYRIK BERRY, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• ZACHARY RONZELL MITCHELL, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, pending sentencing.
• JACOBY RASHAWN LEE, age 19, Fargo, ND: Plead guilty to One Count of Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence – Hobbs Act Robbery, sentenced to 84 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Puhl assigned to the case.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move.

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