BILOXI, Miss. — A Harrison County man identified as the leader of a human trafficking operation spanning multiple Mississippi Gulf Coast cities has been sentenced to 50 years in prison, court officials announced Tuesday.
On Monday, 26-year-old Malik Causey pleaded guilty to two counts of human trafficking stemming from crimes uncovered in the summer of 2023. Investigators said the case began after a 14-year-old runaway was contacted on Facebook by Causey’s co-defendant, Jasmine Drake, who was allegedly instructed to recruit additional young women.
Authorities said Drake met the juvenile in person and brought her to Causey. The two allegedly created online advertisements and forced the child to engage in sex acts for money over several days at hotels throughout Gulfport and Biloxi.
In addition to exploiting the minor, investigators said Causey recruited multiple adult women into prostitution under his direct control. Law enforcement determined Causey arranged hotel rooms, set prices, and maintained a digital ledger on his iCloud account tracking profits and expenses. In exchange, the women were provided food, alcohol, and lodging.
During his plea, Causey admitted to operating a prostitution ring but claimed he did not intentionally involve a juvenile. Court records show that after learning the girl was reported missing, Causey and Drake contacted her mother. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office later recovered the child in Long Beach.
The victim’s mother addressed the court, describing the lasting impact the crimes had on her daughter.
“Human trafficking inflicts devastating harm on its victims and fuels other serious crimes,” said District Attorney Crosby Parker, adding that the sentence sends a strong message that such conduct will result in severe punishment.
Judge Christopher Schmidt sentenced Causey to 50 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with 27 years to be served day-for-day without parole or early release.
Causey is a lifelong Harrison County resident with ties to Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pearl River County.
