OAKLAND — A Fairfield rapper has been arrested and charged with trafficking a 16-year-old girl after she allegedly identified him from one of his music videos, court records show.
Michael Isrealishia Moore, 28, was charged this month with human trafficking of a minor, as well as pimping and pandering, all related to the same girl, who came forward to police on Nov. 2. Authorities say patrol cops in Oakland stumbled upon the girl outside of a local convenience store and struck up a conversation with her because she appeared upset. The conversation led to a police interview where she allegedly identified Moore as her pimp.
The girl said she had been trafficked by other men, and was walking along a high-prostitution area in Los Angeles when Moore allegedly approached her, invited her to smoke marijuana, and invited her to work for him as a prostitute instead. She later identified Moore by his stage name “BussDown Bandy,” and identified him from a music video on YouTube, authorities said.
The girl also reportedly told police Moore acted surprised when she told him her age but that he continued to associate with her, authorities said.
Police said they recovered text messages that back up the allegation Moore was trafficking the girl, as well as video surveillance confirming the two “are associated.” Police also seized $4,000 in cash found in Moore’s possession when he was arrested, according to court records.
At a Tuesday court appearance, Moore was listed as in custody but didn’t appear due to an unspecified medical issue, according to a minute order from the hearing. His bail has been set at $350,000 and his next court date is not until next January, records show.
The alleged victim had been listed as a missing person for months after she ran away from home, but only came into contact with Moore in late October, according to police.