MPD Makes Arrests As Part Of National Super Bowl Sex Trafficking Sting

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(Memphis) The Memphis Police Department joined 27 other law enforcement agencies to crack down on sex trafficking.

The seventh “National Day of Johns Arrests” ran for 12 days from January 23^rd through February 2^nd, culminating with the Super Bowl, an event long considered a haven for sex trafficking.

The sting brought together 27 agencies throughout 15 states in a widespread crackdown on the demand for purchased sex.

Memphis Police arrested the following eight (8) people for Promoting Prostitution (felony), Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape or Solicitation of a Minor to wit Statutory Rape (misdemeanor):

Marquis Martin, male, 26: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Statutory Rape
James Smith, male, 41: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape
Samuel Norris, male, 46: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape
Clifton Palmer, male, 33: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape
Aaron Branch, male, 25: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape
Rickey Warren, male, 50: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape
Michael Morgan, male, 44: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape
Merly Valle, male, 34: charged with Patronizing Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor to wit Aggravated Statutory Rape

In a news release Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said, “These johns are predators in the same community that this police department works to keep safe. Our Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators and officers will continue to work hard in the fight against exploitation of minors and sexual servitude. This operation proved to be a success.”

From News Release:

The Super Bowl sting’s results reflect growing momentum for this national campaign. Across the seven operations over a three year stretch, the collaborative effort has resulted in the arrests of 1,832 total johns.

Cumulative numbers from the “National Day of Johns Arrests” campaign are as follows:

Arrest totals
- 373 arrests
- 359 sex solicitation arrests (johns)
- 14 sex trafficking/pimping arrests

Additional penalties for the johns

- $149,470 in minimum potential fines
- 144 cars towed/forfeited from johns
- 8 weapons seized from johns
- 14 narcotics charges for johns
- 7 johns taken into custody due to outstanding warrants
- 5 johns taken into custody for either resisting or evading arrest

Victims/Prostitutes

- 31 prostitutes recovered
- 17 adults, 14 juveniles

Noteworthy anecdotes from the sweep include:

The Memphis Police Department recovered a 17-year-old trafficking victim; and confiscated a weapon from a john
Harris County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Harris County Constable Precinct 4 deputy (who was wearing his uniform trousers at the time) as part of its johns sting
St. Paul PD arrested a pimp who had been holding two 18-year-old girls against their will
LAPD arrested a pimp who drove all the way from Arizona to collect what he thought was a new recruit; LAPD’s undercover officers found that he brought an 18-year-old girl who he had forced into prostitution, with her 5-year-old son in the car as well (they have been rescued)
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County law enforcement, Indianapolis PD, Phoenix PD and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office all arrested in excess of 30 johns during the sting
The collective efforts of Harris County law enforcement resulted in 48 johns arrests, the most of any agency
Dayton PD arrested 5 pimps and sex traffickers, the most of any agency

Agencies who participated in the Super Bowl sting include: