News

Actions

7 people indicted in child-prostitution ring

Posted
and last updated

A state grand jury has indicted seven people on charges related to child prostitution in Colorado.

Investigators say Brock Franklin, 29, acted as the leader of the child sex trafficking operation.

Franklin recruited girls by contacting them though Facebook and meeting them at hotels and nightclubs, according to the indictment.

The indictment lists three children who are believed to be victims. The indictment does not give the girls' ages.

Franklin set daily earning quotas for the victims, routinely gave them drugs and alcohol and used violence to control and coerce the victims, the grand jury found.

Franklin, whose nickname is "Cupid," was indicted on 39 felony counts, including pimping and patronizing a child prostitute, keeping a place of child prostitution, kidnapping, sexual assault and assault with a deadly weapon.

Several other adults, including Michelle Payne, Isis Debreaux and Donye Johnson, are accused of renting hotel rooms, driving the victims to hotels and other properties to engage in commercial sex acts, and collecting earnings from victims to give to Franklin.

Rooms were rented at the Doubletree Hotel, the Commons Hotel, the Red Lion Hotel, the Warwick Hotel and Motel 6, according to the indictment.

The group allegedly posted ads on Backpage.com to find people willing to pay to engage in sexual acts with the underage victims.

Three men, David Fullenwiley Jones, Brandon Garrison and Ralph Jones, are also accused of being involved.

David Jones is accused raping one of the juvenile victims. Other charges against David Jones include pimping and patronizing a child prostitute.  

Brandon Garrison is accused of trafficking for sexual servitude, keeping a place of child prostitution and other charges.

Ralph Jones is accused of keeping a place of child prostitution and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The indictment says Ralph Jones allowed a house at 5055 Worchester Street in Denver to be used for child prostitution.

Six of the people indicted have been arrested, officials say. Officials say the arrest of the final suspect is pending.

Franklin is due in court Jan. 11.

DOCUMENT: Read the indictment

---------

Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines.

Or, keep up-to-date by following Denver7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.