SANTA ANA , Calif.—Charges against a 33-year-old man accused of human trafficking of a 15-year-old girl were dismissed Jan. 10 in Orange County Superior Court because federal prosecutors are taking over the case.

Jamaal Neal Curry was charged Nov. 22 by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office with human trafficking of a minor and pimping and pandering for a prostitute younger than 16, all felonies, but that case was dismissed Wednesday, according to court records.

Mr. Curry was arrested in Mission Viejo at Crown Valley Parkway and the San Diego (5) Freeway following a traffic stop by Orange County sheriff’s deputies on Nov. 20.

On Tuesday, a complaint for transportation of a minor in interstate commerce for prostitution was filed in federal court in Santa Ana.

According to an affidavit filed by Homeland Security Special Agent Joe Fenty, Mr. Curry was arrested with the victim in the passenger seat of the Chevrolet Cruze the defendant was driving.

When deputies searched the vehicle they found $566 in cash as well as a bag of women’s lingerie and condoms and a Motel 6 key card, Mr. Fenty said.

Mr. Curry told investigators he was on probation in Nevada for pimping and pandering, Mr. Fenty said.

The victim told investigators she had been working as a prostitute since she was 14, Mr. Fenty said. She met Mr. Curry in Las Vegas through another woman, who saw the victim crying in a casino, according to the affidavit.

The woman introduced the alleged victim to Mr. Curry, who allegedly began pimping the teen in Las Vegas. Mr. Curry and the teen also had sex multiple times, Mr. Fenty alleged.

The teen asked Mr. Curry to take her to Los Angeles to work as a prostitute there, but she was actually trying to contact her mother, Mr. Fenty said.

The two set out for Los Angeles, but the plan changed to drive to San Diego. Along the way they stopped at a motel in San Bernardino, where the two had sex again, Mr. Fenty alleged.

The two did then go to Los Angeles where they bought marijuana and Xanax. Then they set off for San Diego and along the way were stopped in Mission Viejo, Mr. Fenty said.