Jury convicts 3 gang members, former El Paso juvenile probation officer of federal sex trafficking charges
EL PASO, Texas — A federal jury Friday convicted four Folk Nation/Gangster Disciples gang members, one of whom was a former juvenile probation officer, of federal sex trafficking charges.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI as part of the federal Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam).
Jurors returned guilty verdicts Jan. 16 for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking against gang members Deion Lockhart, 26; Richard Gray, 25; Emmanual Lockhart, 24, and Timothy McCullouch, Jr., 29, who is a former El Paso County juvenile probation officer.
Related convictions were also returned against the following individuals: Lockhart for sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking children; Gray for sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking children and transporting for prostitution; and McCullouch for sex trafficking children.
Testimony during trial revealed that between May 2012 and March 2013, the defendants were involved in the forced prostitution of juveniles and adults by the Folk Nation/Gangster Disciples street gang. The defendants used a combination of force, fraud and coercion to compel their victims to engage in sexual activities for money in El Paso and Killeen, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Colorado.
Each defendant faces up to life in federal prison. Sentencing is set for April in federal court.
Two fellow gang members and co-defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial. In May, Tai Von Lynch and Brandon Shapiro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. On Oct. 28, Lynch was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.
Shapiro, who remains in custody, is awaiting sentencing which is set for February. He faces an agreed sentence of five years in federal prison.
In a separate, but related matter, Folk Nation/Gangster Disciples gang members Kiry Hakeem Nalls, 25, and Grant Rutledge, 25, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a forced prostitution scheme. In April, Nalls was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, and fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to forced labor. In March 2014, Rutledge was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, and fined $500 after pleading guilty to misprision of felony.
“This verdict is a major victory for HSI and its law enforcement partners within the ACTeam,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez. “HSI will continue to employ its ample law enforcement authorities, resources and resolve to investigate human trafficking in our community, identify and rescue victims, and bring traffickers to justice."
The ACTeam comprises HSI, FBI, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with the El Paso Police Department’s Gang Unit; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rifian Newaz and Robert Almonte, Western District of Texas, are prosecuting these cases.
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