Following a two-day trial, a federal jury in the Western District of Kentucky found Portier Q. Govan, 38, from Memphis, Tennessee, guilty on all counts in a five-count indictment. The charges included sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction or interference with a sex trafficking prosecution or investigation, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His co-defendant, Brittany R. Howard, 25, from Bowling Green, Kentucky, pleaded guilty earlier to related charges.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated: “This defendant used extreme threats of violence to compel an 18-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex... A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty of his heinous conduct.”
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky commended the work done by law enforcement agencies and emphasized their commitment to tackling human trafficking. He encouraged public reporting of any suspected cases.
FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough described how Govan preyed on the victim using threats and coercion for profit. "The woman was forced to engage in commercial sex while the defendant profited from her suffering," he said.
During the trial, evidence showed that Govan and Howard met their victim at a gas station in Bowling Green and enticed her with false promises before threatening her into compliance. The trial detailed Govan's escalating intimidation tactics involving physical threats and firearms.
Govan faces sentencing on March 25, 2025, with potential penalties ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment plus mandatory restitution. Howard will be sentenced on March 9, 2025.
The case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office along with local police departments and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa.
Authorities urge anyone with information about human trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline available around-the-clock.