Based on the FBI’s Houston Division, Joey Lamar Ellis might have focused victims at Houston parks and compelled them to strip and pay him cash or be arrested.
HOUSTON — A former Metropolis of Houston park ranger arrested in June on costs of sexual assault and official oppression is again behind bars with 20 new federal costs.
Federal brokers arrested Joey Lamar Ellis, 33, in courtroom Tuesday morning and hauled him again to jail.
Based on the FBI’s Houston Division, Ellis focused victims at no less than three Houston parks — Memorial, Cullen and Cleveland — the place homosexual males are identified to satisfy. The feds say Ellis compelled males to strip and provides him cash whereas on patrol. In some circumstances, they are saying he compelled them to carry out intercourse acts on him whereas threatening to arrest them in the event that they did not comply.
Based on investigators, a number of extra alleged victims have come ahead with new allegations that led to further costs, a few of which may solely be prosecuted on the federal stage. The brand new federal costs contain eight victims, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace stated.
“It’s a aid that these individuals are seeing this on the information, they’re seeing different victims come ahead, which then provides them the braveness to return ahead,” prosecutor Kimberly Smith stated after the listening to.
Ellis’s lawyer stated the arrest on Tuesday caught them off-guard.
“We weren’t conscious. Had we been conscious, we nonetheless would’ve come, it’s nonetheless our intention to battle this case with each fiber of our being,” protection lawyer Ryan Fremuth advised KHOU 11. “Everyone seems to be harmless except they’re confirmed responsible and Mr. Ellis nonetheless stands by his innocence on this case.”
The 20 federal costs for civil rights violations are added to the three unique state costs for sexual assault and official oppression.
The FBI stated Ellis might have been focusing on victims for years earlier than he was caught. He’d been working for the Metropolis of Houston since 2019.
Investigators nonetheless wish to hear from different doable victims. Anybody who might have been extorted or sexually assaulted by Ellis or have info related to the investigation, can fill out a type anonymously. Victims could also be eligible for sure providers, and rights underneath federal and/or state regulation.
Houston park ranger’s earlier arrests
Ellis was first arrested in June after prosecutors stated he approached two males inside a automotive at Cullen Park and advised them he knew what they had been there for. He wasn’t on obligation that night time however they stated Ellis was sporting his ranger uniform and driving a metropolis automobile.
One of many males advised police that Ellis threatened to take him him to jail except he stripped bare, confessed to against the law he did not commit and paid him $300. The person stated he did not have that a lot cash however he gave Ellis $20 in money and one other $200 through CashApp.
Prosecutors stated Ellis additionally advised the sufferer he wanted to assist lure different males to the park by way of homosexual courting apps so he might do the identical factor to them.
The person was in a position to escape and name police.
After the primary arrest, prosecutors stated extra victims got here ahead, together with one who accused Ellis of threatening to have his automotive towed if he did not give him cash or carry out oral intercourse on him.
He was arrested once more in August after allegedly violating the phrases of his bond.
