SEARCY, AR (WMC) – A Searcy, Arkansas business owner was found guilty of sex trafficking the 15-year-old daughter of one of his employees after a two-day trial. A federal jury on Wednesday convicted Muhammad Arif, 56, of the charges filed more than four years ago.
The jury deliberated for about two hours.
The investigation began on August 9, 2019, after police in Judonia, Arkansas, received a tip alleging inappropriate sexual misconduct involving a teenage boy.
The victim was interviewed at the White County Child Safety Center. In her interview, she said that she accompanied her father and her boss Arif to Searcy's company about two months ago. It was her first time meeting her father's employer.
While there, Arif instructed one of his other employees to drive the girl's father to another job site in Bradford, Arkansas, 37 miles away. That day, the girl was in the car with her father, so she needed a ride to her home.
The victim told investigators that Arif volunteered to drive her about 10 minutes from Searcy to Judsonia.
Once alone in the car, she said Arif offered her $100 in exchange for oral sex. The victim told investigators that she began recording the conversation on her cell phone because she was worried no one would believe her.
During the recording, prosecutors say Arif can be heard promising to not tell anyone and asking him to hand over $20.
The girl recorded another conversation a month later in which she could hear Arif repeatedly requesting sexual favors and asking her not to tell anyone.
On September 21, 2019, Arif was interviewed and admitted that he drove the employee's daughter to Judsonia in his car. She admitted that it was just her and the victim in the car and that it was the first time she had met the victim.
Arif also admitted that he knew she was a minor.
During the interrogation, the officer played the recording and Mr. Arif confirmed that it was him in the recording. Arif told investigators that he was embarrassed and that he was worried that those close to him would find out.
Arif faces a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing date has not been set.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Judsonia Police Department and the Kensett Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Katie Hinojosa.
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