A Houston resident, formerly serving as a city park ranger, faces federal charges for allegedly abusing his authority to detain and assault visitors in city parks. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced that Joey Lamar Ellis, aged 34, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on December 3rd with 20 counts of civil rights violations against eight victims.
Ellis is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison at 2 p.m. The indictment alleges that Ellis used his position to block victims' vehicles with his city-issued vehicle, confiscating their driver's licenses or cell phones under false pretenses of criminal accusations. He reportedly threatened the victims with arrest or towing of their cars.
The charges detail that Ellis offered alternatives to avoid these threats, sometimes demanding money or committing assaults and demanding sexual acts from the victims. In several instances, he allegedly used his firearm to intimidate them and instructed at least one victim not to disclose the incidents.
Authorities urge anyone who believes they have been victimized or knows someone who has to fill out an online FBI form or contact the FBI Houston Field Office at 713-693-5000.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad Khandelwal and Rebekah Saunders are leading the prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute evidence of guilt; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due legal processes.