HOUSTON – A 46-year-old Houston man has been taken into custody on charges of sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Larry Odell Lewis, known as ‘Lavish,’ expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison at 2pm today.
A federal grand jury returned the eight-count indictment June 2 which was unsealed upon his arrest late June 8.
The indictment alleges Lewis used force, fraud, and coercion to cause four adult women to engage in commercial sex. According to the charges, some of the acts occurred on the Bissonnet Track, an area of Houston known to be plagued by prostitution and prostitution-related crimes.
Lewis is also accused of coercing the women to engage in similar acts across state lines.
If convicted, Lewis faces up to life imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Public Safety and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the FBI as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA).
Established in 2004, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston formed the HTRA to combine resources with federal, state, and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sebastian A. Edwards and Christine Lu are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
MANDATORY FACTS:
1. Defendant: Larry Odell Lewis
2. Exact criminal charges: Eight-count indictment for sex trafficking
3. City and state: Houston, Texas
4. Exact date: June 8, 2023
5. Sentence or outcome: Faces up to life imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex Crimes|Human TraffickingSex Crimes|Human TraffickingSex Crimes|Human TraffickingSex Crimes|Human Trafficking