Atlanta man sentenced to 21 years for sex trafficking, witness tampering – By Asia Simone Burns (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) / April 24 2019
Prosecutors said the man lured young women to Atlanta from rural areas of South Carolina.
An Atlanta man received 21 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking and witness tampering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Quintavious Obie, 32, was sentenced by a U.S. District judge after prosecutors said he lured his victims into prostitution and continued to harass them after he was arrested.
U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak said Obie lured young women from rural areas in South Carolina to Atlanta with “promises of a lucrative lifestyle.” Once they arrived in Atlanta, they were forced into a life of prostitution “through mental and physical abuse,” Pak said. The victims had to turn over all of the money they received to Obie, and were not allowed to go anywhere without his knowledge or see anyone outside of paying clients, Pak said.
“Any deviation from his rules brought severe punishment,” Pak said.
Obie was indicted for sex trafficking in January 2018.
“However, this did not stop Obie from continuing his pattern of harassment and victimization,” Pak said.
From January to April 2018, Obie had people call and text his victims to have them retract their statements to law enforcement, Pak said. As a result, he was also charged with witness tampering.
After Obie is released from prison, he will have to serve 10 years of supervised release. He will also have to pay a special assessment of $300 and restitution in the amount of $7,500 per victim.
