Three Arrested for Human Trafficking, & One for Carnal Knowledge
Three arrests have been made in connection to human trafficking in Lake Charles. A fourth man is charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
According to a media release from Kim Myers at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, detectives were called out to a motel on North Martin Luther King Highway in Lake Charles on March 21, 2019, in reference to the possible location of a 14-year-old female who had been reported a runaway. Detectives located the girl in a room, along with Mariah C. Miller, 24, 216. Bowers Street, Iowa.
After interviewing the victim, detectives learned the girl was 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 responsible for trafficking the girl, said Myers.
Antonio D. Tompkins, 25, 1009 Live Oak Street, Lake Charles, was also identified as someone the girl was forced to have sex with.
Between June 10 and 13, Judge Guy Bradberry signed warrants for the arrest of all four suspects. Miller, Citizen, and Tompkins; were all incarcerated at the Calcasieu Correctional Center on unrelated charges. Miller is charged with human trafficking with a bond of $250,000. Citizen is charged with human trafficking; 1st-degree rape; and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile with a bond of $2million. Tompkins is charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile with a bond of $250,000. Landry was arrested on June 17 and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with trafficking of juveniles for sexual purposes with a bond of $250,000. - Kim Myers
This is an ongoing investigation, where more arrests and charges could arise. Detectives also believe there may be more juvenile victims.
Anyone with information regarding the suspects, in this case, are encouraged to contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office at 491.3605.