Philadelphia couple charged with sex trafficking of a minor

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia couple was charged March 29, with sex trafficking of a minor, following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia investigation, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department Special Victim’s Unit (SVU) and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Shyniquah Lightner, 26, and Malik Hudson, 21, were charged by indictment in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to the aforementioned violations.

The indictment alleges that between July 2017 and Sept. 2017, defendant Shyniquah Lightner was the operator of a prostitution venture in Philadelphia, and defendant Malik Hudson assisted Lightner in the scheme. Lightner recruited young females to work as prostitutes in her business, and she created internet advertisements in which she marketed various females as available for purchase for purposes of prostitution. These advertisements featured pictures of the females, either scantily clad or partially nude, a description of each female, and a phone number to call to arrange a meeting. Defendants Lightner and Hudson used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to cause the females who worked for them to engage in commercial sex acts. Two of the females Lightner recruited and advertised were under 18 years of age. Lightner and Hudson are charged with sex trafficking of Minor 1. Additionally, Lightner is charged in a second count with sex trafficking of Minor 2.

"The task force brings together the expertise, training, experience, and law enforcement authorities of the partnered agencies to help identify human traffickers, and prosecute them while also protecting and aiding survivors. “HSI Philadelphia is pleased that the newly-formed, multiagency Anti-Trafficking Coalition worked jointly on this investigation, and we look forward to expanding our partnerships with private and public entities to combat human trafficking,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia.

If convicted, Lightner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime-supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.

If convicted, Hudson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime-supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

"We are privileged to have collaborated with our Human Trafficking Task Force partners in the investigation and attendant arrests," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Ricard Ross. "Our collective efforts resulted in the arrests of two dangerous predators, and furthered our overarching mission to keep our children safe from exploitation."

This case is part of the Philadelphia Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. Members of the joint task force include the HSI Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Police Department’s SVU, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Family Violence & Sexual Assault Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Salvation Army and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.