Police on Wednesday charged a suspect after a long investigation into numerous human trafficking-related offenses in Houston and the state of Texas.
Marquis Dominick Holmes, 27, is charged with five felony counts: two counts of trafficking of a person, two counts of compelling prostitution by force and one count of aggravated promotion of prostitution.
Investigators with the Houston Police Department’s Vice Division Human Trafficking Unit say this case was among the most egregious they’ve investigated recently.
They say Holmes violently forced at least 10 women into prostitution for up to 3 years. He was arrested on Friday.
Investigators believe there are at least nine other victims out there who have yet to come forward.
Authorities say one of the victims tipped them off that Holmes was forcing them into prostitution.
“He was very violent with them. He strangled one of the women, ran over another one with his car. He threatened family members and a 6-month-old child of one of the women,” said Captain James Dale at a press conference.
The victims were all adults, but some were as young as 18 or 19 years old.
Holmes allegedly threatened them if they didn’t pay him at least $1,500 a day after performing sexual acts in hotels and in the streets of Houston. Police say the women were forced to perform sexual acts in different parts of the country as well.
Capt. Dale says these “pimps” prey on the most vulnerable to exploit.
“They use social media. They go to malls and high schools and things to recruit,” he said.
The victims are then left trapped.
“Oftentimes, their documents are withheld. Food is withheld to continue to force the coercion,” added Lt. Jessica Anderson.
Their investigation into Holmes lasted a few months. Officials are warning they’re not only going after the ring leaders in these cases, but also any johns.
“You’re not innocent in all of this,” Capt. Dale said. “These woman are not working on their own free will. They are not doing this voluntarily. They’re working for a pimp.”