RICO INDICTMENT FILED ON SEVEN ADULTS FOR LURING VICTIMS INTO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION

Posted on 12/20/2017

Defendant: Cottrell Marshall, Jr., Deshawn Lamont Givens, Thorsha Lamont Cartharn, Jeffery Terrell Marshall, Sherman Lloyd Tanner, Michelle L. Martin, and Sara Louise Ann Wilson

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “Our office will continue to work with local law enforcement to prosecute offenders who force or coerce victims into human trafficking.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a RICO indictment against the following 7 adults:  Cottrell Marshall, Jr., age 43, Deshawn Lamont Givens, age 43, Thorsha Lamont Cartharn, age 40, Jeffery Terrell Marshall, age 38, Sherman Lloyd Tanner, age 54, Michelle L. Martin, age 43, and Sara Louise Ann Wilson, age 31.  The 18 count indictment includes charges of Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (F-1), Trafficking in Persons (F-1), Compelling Prostitution (F-3), and Promoting Prostitution (F-4).  Cottrell Marshall, the director and organizer of the criminal enterprise was indicted on all 18 counts of the indictment, as was Deshawn Lamont Givens.  There are 5 victims listed in the indictment, and the indictment alleges that the Human Trafficking, and Compelling and Promoting Prostitution counts occurred between the time span of the fall of 2012 off and on through the summer of 2015.  “The organization primarily operated out of various hotels in Columbus after posting escort advertisements on Backpage.com, and Marshall controlled the victims with violence and drugs,” O’Brien stated.  O’Brien commended the Columbus Police Department for their thorough investigation of this case.