More Arrests Made in Human Trafficking Case

Update: Further investigation has led detectives to more suspects allegedly involved with an ongoing human trafficking investigation. Two men who worked at the motel where the victim was found have been arrested. Detectives stated the men also had sexual intercourse with the fourteen-year-old.

Reiko Johnson, Sr., 42, of 519 Hackberry Street, Lake Charles, was initially arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on July 17 for obstruction of justice, with a bond of $150,000. Detectives said that further investigation revealed he attempted to hide the victim at the motel while law enforcement was initially trying to locate her. On July 29, Johnson was additionally charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. His bond is $250,000.

Dominique J. Simmons, 32, 1206 Sally Mae Street, Lake Charles, was arrested on July 24, and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. His bond is also $250,000.

Judge Clayton Davis set both bonds.

Detectives with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office were called to a motel on North Martin Luther King Highway in Lake Charles on March 21, 2019, in reference to the possible location of a runaway fourteen-year-old female. Detectives located the girl in a room, along with Mariah C. Miller, 24.

After being interviewed, detectives learned the female victim had been a victim of sex trafficking since January 2019. She told detectives she was beaten and forced to have sexual intercourse with a number of men. It was learned that Miller and an acquaintance of the victim, Kaleb A. Citizen, 21, 4254 5th Avenue, Lake Charles, and Darius P. Landry, 28, Lake Charles, who was the victim’s guardian and family member, were allegedly responsible for trafficking the girl.

Antonio D. Tompkins, 25, was identified as someone the girl was forced to have sex with. Jason D. Bryant, 19, and Tyler D. Lawson, 26, were both charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile; and Kelly Johnson, Jr., 27, was charged with first-degree rape. All of the men were arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and given bonds.

According to a CPSO media release, further investigation has resulted in the arrest of another suspect, Mayur K. Patel, 39. Patel, who manages the motel, was also allegedly responsible for trafficking the victim for sex at the motel where she was found by detectives. Detectives also stated Patel had sexual intercourse with the victim.

On July 19, a warrant was signed for Patel’s arrest to be held with no bond for human trafficking and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile by Judge Michael Canaday. On July 26, he was located in Houston and extradited back to the Calcasieu Correctional Center and booked.

More arrests and charges are possible as the investigation continues.