MAYS LANDING – Two Atlantic County men were indicted this afternoon for promoting the prostitution of children and other crimes, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.
A four-month investigation in 2015 by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force resulted in charges on December 16, 2015 against Seleem Reynolds, now 26, of the 200 block of N. South Carolina Avenue, Atlantic City, and Mikal Mitchell, now 30, of the 500 block of Shore Road, Somers Point.
Seleem Reynolds was charged with Promoting the Prostitution of a Child under the age of 18, 2 counts of Promoting Prostitution, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Conspiracy. Mikal Mitchell was charged with 2 counts of Promoting the Prostitution of a Child under the age of 18, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Terroristic Threats, and Conspiracy.
United States Marshals arrested Reynolds without incident in Galloway Township on December 21, 2015, and lodged him in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $300,000—no 10% bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild. Reynolds has remained in custody since.
Mitchell was subsequently arrested without incident in Jersey City, NJ, by Jersey City Police, and was lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Facility on bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Wild at $250.000—no 10%, with additional bail of $20,000—no 10%, for the Terroristic Threats charge. Mitchell was later transferred to Camden County Jail, where he has remained in custody
The focus of the investigation was the exploitation of children under the age of eighteen, and of an adult female, for the purposes of promoting prostitution. The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) is staffed by members of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies and has two primary goals:
1. Identify and prosecute those involved in the sex trafficking of minors, and
2. Recover the minor victims to ensure their safety and provide them access to the services they need.
2. Recover the minor victims to ensure their safety and provide them access to the services they need.
Detective Greg Engstler, of the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, and Detective Paul Vanaman, of the Department of Human Services Police—both members of the FBI’s CETF—were lead investigators in the four-month investigation, and were assisted by Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Sergeant Bill Adamson and Detective Jennifer Cugini.
Three child victims were located and placed under protection during the investigation.
On Thursday, January 12, 2017, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Reynolds and Mitchell for:
- Conspiracy to Promote Prostitution of a Minor—a crime of the 2nd degree,
- Promoting the Prostitution of a Child Under the Age of 18—a 1st degree crime,
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child, that they “did knowingly engage in sexual conduct with [the child]”—3rd degree crime,
- Promoting the Prostitution of a (2nd) Child under the age of 18—1st degree, and
- Endangering the Welfare of a (2nd) Child, that they “did knowingly engage in sexual conduct with [the child]”—3rd degree crime.
The Grand Jury further indicted Seleem Reynolds for:
- Two Counts of Promoting Prostitution (of adults)—3rd degree crimes, and
The Grand Jury further indicted Mikal Mitchell for:
- Promoting the Prostitution of a (3rd) Child under the age of 18—1st degree,
- Endangering the Welfare of a (3rd) Child, that they “did knowingly engage in sexual conduct with [the child]”—a 3rd degree crime, and
- Terrorist Threats—a 3rd degree crime.
Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Buckley represents the State in the matter.
A 1st degree conviction carries a potential sentence of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison for a period of 10-20 years. The potential prison sentence for a 2nd degree conviction is 5-10 years of imprisonment. A 3rd degree conviction carries a potential prison penalty of 3-5 years.
Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children for child prostitution in Atlantic County is asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force at 1-800-CALL FBI (1-800-225-5324), or the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 909-7800.
These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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