Suspect in prostitution trafficking case faces additional charges

5/5/2011

Roy Calhoun was arrested in November and charged with recruiting and using women — including minors — as prostitutes over a three-year period.

And according to new indictments filed in U.S. District Court in Toledo, the man known as “Lucky” has continued to engage in criminal activity behind bars while he awaits trial.

The Toledo man was charged in an indictment filed Wednesday with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute drugs and possession of contraband in prison. He was also charged with obstructing justice for allegedly threatening witnesses in his original case.

“This defendant is accused of trying to continue to run his criminal enterprise from behind bars,” Steven Dettelbach, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said in a statement released Thursday. “He is charged with trafficking in children and now distributing drugs and intimidating witnesses. There is no place for this kind of behavior in society.”

Mr. Calhoun, 28, was arrested in November and charged with crimes related to the recruitment of women to work as prostitutes between 2007 and 2010. He was ordered held in custody pending his trial date on nine felony charges.

The allegations included that Mr. Calhoun recruited minors to work as prostitutes and that he would beat and assault the women who worked for him and would threaten those who left or attempted to quit.

Charged in the same indictment filed in November were Marissa M. Mayers and Damien J. Harris, both 22, for sex trafficking of a minor, conspiracy, transportation of a minor, and coercion and enticement.

According to the original indictment, Mr. Calhoun and Ms. Mayers for three years recruited teenagers to perform sex acts for pay through listings on the Web site Craigslist.com.

This week, a superseding indictment was filed, which added a 10th charge — obstructing justice — against Mr. Calhoun. Also charged in the most recent indictment with conspiracy to obstruct justice were new defendants: Shaina M. Perry, 21; Carrie L. Schuster, 23, and Velda R. Travis, 50, all of Toledo.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Mr. Calhoun contacted the three new co-defendants after he was taken into custody and directed them to contact witnesses in an attempt to influence them to withhold testimony.

Mr. Calhoun’s attorney, George Gerken, said Thursdayhe was aware of the new charges, but did not have enough information to comment on the case.

Mr. Calhoun is also accused of using code words while in custody to orchestrate the sale of prescription drugs, specifically Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Percocet.

“Defendants would obtain and purchase Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Percocet from individuals who obtained prescriptions and once acquired, the defendants would sell these pills for profit,” the indictment stated. “Defendants split amongst themselves profits from the illegal sale of [the drugs,] which included delivery of the proceeds of the sales to defendant Calhoun at the Lucas County jail.”

In addition to Mr. Calhoun, Ms. Perry, Velda Travis, as well as Charles Travis, Jr., 49, of Toledo; Monica Velasquez, 35, of Fostoria, and Justin Hill, 20, of Toledo, all are charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute the drugs.

Charles Travis, Jr., who is known as “Chubbs,” and Ms. Perry remain at large, authorities said. All other defendants are in custody.

Contact Erica Blake at:

eblake@theblade.com

or 419-213-2134.