Thursday, May 2, 2019

More Sex Trafficking Arrests at Fortification Hotel

More sex trafficking is taking place at the Extended Studio Hotel on 881 East River Place in Jackson.  Hinds County Deputies arrested Christopher Griffin, Edward Williams, and Charmaine Turner yesterday for promoting prostitution, human trafficking, and exploitation of a minor.  Deputies came upon the ring while investigating the disappearance of the female victim. 

The arrest warrants state:

On or about the 23 day of April 2019 within the Judicial District, County and State aforesaid did intentionally, knowingly, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously at 881 E. River Place and multiple other locations knowingly subject, or attempt to subject, or recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide or obtain by any means, or attempt to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide or obtain by any means, a minor, knowing that the minor will engage in commercial sexual activity, sexually-explicit performance, or the production of sexually oriented material, or causes or attempts to cause a minor to engage in commercial sexual activity, sexually explicit performance, or the production of sexually oriented material in violation of Mississippi Code Section 97-3-54 ...

Between the 11th day of April 2019 and the 23'd day of April 2019 within the Judicial District, County and State aforesaid did intentionally, knowingly, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously at 881 E. River Place and multiple other locations cause, solicit, or knowingly permit a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Williams also intentionally, knowingly, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously by any means including computer, knowingly entice, induce, persuade, seduce, solicit, advise, coerce, or order a child to meet with the defendant or any other person for the purpose of engaging in sexually explicit conduct in violation of Mississippi Code Section 97-3-65 against the peace and dignity of the State of Mississippi.

Griffin is a registered sex offender.  He was convicted in 2010 of sexual battery.  Unfortunately, this is not the first such arrest at this "hotel" in the last year.   JJ reported on September 12, 2018:

A woman accused of creating child porn and promoting prostitution in Jackson will remain behind bars after Hinds County Court Judge Bill Skinner denied her bond. The arrest warrant states that Kayla Ponder worked with several other suspects to run a prostitution and sex trafficking ring at the Extended Studio Hotel off of Fortification Street.  Ponder was also arrested in July for conspiring to smuggle drugs and a cellphone into the Raymond Detention Center.

The  affidavits for Ponder's arrest warrant provide some information on the crimes allegedly committed by the defendant.  The affidavit for the charge of  exploitation of a child and child pornography states:


Between the l day of May 2017 and the 10 day of June 2018 within the Judicial District, County and State aforesaid did intentionally, knowingly, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously at 881 E. River Place and multiple other locations by any means including computer, photographed, filmed, videotaped or otherwise depicted or record a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct or in the simulation of sexually explicit conduct. Ponder also by any means including computer, knowingly sent, transported, transmitted, shipped, mailed or received any photograph, drawing, sketch, film, video tape or other visual depiction of an actual child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Ponder also by any means including computer, knowingly possessed or knowingly accessed with intent to view any photograph, drawing, sketch, film, video tape or other visual depiction of an actual child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Ponder also by any means, including computer, knowingly enticed, induced, persuaded, seduced, solicited, advised, coerced or ordered a child to produce any visual depiction of adult sexual conduct or any sexually explicit conduct. in violation of Mississippi Code Section 97-5-33 in violation of Mississippi Code Section 97-3-65
against the peace and dignity of the State of Mississippi.
Another affidavit charges Ponder with using a room at the Extended Studio Hotel (at the East end of Fortification Street) to promote prostitution.....

 Judge Skinner set bond at $500,000 for Ponder's alleged accomplice, Angela Berch. He placed her on ankle-bracelet monitoring if is released upon posting bond.   Berch is a resident of Magee.   She is charged with promoting prostitution, involuntary human trafficking, and child endangerment....

 But wait, there is more.   Ponder and Anna Barrett were busted for conspiring with Albert Holly to smuggle drugs and a cellphone into the Raymond Detention Center.   The affidavit states the drug was spice.  However, another affidavit alleges Holly worked with Ponder to run the sex trafficking ring at Extended Studio.   The affidavit charges Holly with possession of child pornography and exploitation of a minor, and promoting prostitution.  Holly was indicted last year for receiving stolen property.  He was an inmate at RDC when the pair were arrested on July 26.... Earlier post.  

Only Holly was indicted in this case.  His alleged female accomplices have not been prosecuted.

Kingfish note: It appears a pattern of sex trafficking is starting to develop at the Extended Studio Hotel.  Too bad it can't be shut down. 

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is that dump considered a Belhaven Hotel? That's not how I'd categorized it. Near Belhaven, sure. But it's across the interstate - a significant demarcation point in my mind.

Now the Fairview Inn? Yes, that's a "Belhaven Hotel."

All that said, it's a shame to see the Extended Studio become a giant turd. It was once a nice place.

Anonymous said...

That's Belhaven. This would never happen in The Fondren. No sireeee.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to the deputies. They may have saved several lives.

Anonymous said...

That's less than 0.1 miles from the City of Flowood. It's time to build a wall.

Anonymous said...

Jesus, that place was a Marriott just a few years ago. What in the world happened?

Anonymous said...

Still looks somewhat acceptable on streetview. Hope out of town visitors are googling dat chit before they get mixed up in all dat!

Anonymous said...

I used to run right by there at lunch. Still run the levy occasionally. Dang.

Anonymous said...

9:51 If they had been arrested in Flowood, they would have received a lot more jail time than they will after being arrested in Jackson

Anonymous said...

what a bunch of snowflakes...they are providing employment for the masses and utilizing city assets and paying taxes and even buying more beer for an underutilized class of society.....these are just simple business deals which benefit all of society and which could ultimately end in bringing more business to Mississippi's only abortion provider and/or more business to Mississippi's only learning/teaching medical facility.

Anonymous said...

1:34 - We all know you consider yourself an unrestrained clown, but nothing in your post makes shit for sense.

Anonymous said...

Don’t just put them in jail, put them on a fire.

Anonymous said...

What he trying to is, pimping ain’t easy.

Anonymous said...

@9:51 AM - no wall required. The Pearl River is a moat.

Anonymous said...

446, you evidently don't know your city boundries. Go back to square one, and wait until your turn before you try again. While waiting, check your naps closer

Anonymous said...

Boundries? Wait until you turn? Check your naps?

More people are turning to alcohol these days....


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