Oakland, California — Michael Isrealishia Moore, a 28-year-old rapper hailing from Fairfield, is now facing serious charges, including human trafficking of a minor, pimping, and pandering, all in connection with a 16-year-old girl who came forward to police on November 2. The charges stem from the girl’s alleged identification of Moore from one of his music videos, according to court records.
This troubling case unfolded after patrol officers in Oakland encountered the distressed girl outside a local convenience store, striking up a conversation with her due to her apparent distress. The ensuing conversation led to a police interview, where she reportedly identified Moore as her pimp.
The girl disclosed that she had been trafficked by multiple individuals and was found walking in a high-prostitution area in Los Angeles when Moore allegedly approached her. He reportedly invited her to smoke marijuana and persuaded her to work as a prostitute for him instead. She later identified Moore by his stage name, “BussDown Bandy,” and recognized him from a music video on YouTube, as confirmed by authorities.
Related read: How To Report Human Trafficking at Hotels
According to reports, the girl informed police that Moore acted surprised when she revealed her age, but he continued to associate with her. Law enforcement recovered text messages supporting the trafficking allegation and video surveillance indicating a connection between the two individuals. Additionally, after Bussdown Bandy was charged with human trafficking, police seized $4,000 in cash during the arrest, as detailed in court records.
During a recent court appearance on Tuesday, Moore was listed as in custody but did not appear due to an undisclosed medical issue, according to a minute order from the hearing. According to official records, his bail has been set at $350,000, and his next court date is scheduled for January.
It has been revealed that the alleged victim had been listed as a missing person for several months after she ran away from home, ultimately encountering Moore in late October, as disclosed by law enforcement officials.
