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Ex-Houston park ranger federally indicted for sexual assault, extortion of park visitors

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Published  December 10, 2024 3:05pm CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 26 Houston

The Brief

    • Former Houston Park Ranger Joey Lamar Ellis is accused of using his position to extort and possibly assault individuals in various parks across the city.
    • According to the indictment, Ellis would block victims from leaving the park, make false claims they committed crimes, and demand money or sexually assault them after alleging that was a way they could get out of being towed or charged.
    • The FBI is asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim or knows someone who was to contact the Houston Field Office.

HOUSTON - Joey Lamar Ellis has been federally indicted for allegedly abusing his authority as a city urban park ranger by stopping, detaining and assaulting park visitors late at night, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment against 34-year-old Ellis on Dec. 3, accusing him of civil rights violations involving eight victims.

The charges allege Ellis used his city-issued vehicle to block victims from leaving park parking lots, often taking their driver’s licenses or cell phones. He reportedly made false accusations, claiming the victims committed various crimes and threatening them with arrest or towing their vehicles.

PREVIOUS STORY: Ex-Houston Park Ranger Joey Lamar Ellis charged with extortion, FBI seeks more victims

According to the indictment, Ellis allegedly demanded money, or in some cases, is accused of assaulting victims or coercing them into unwanted sexual acts as a way they could get out of being towed or charged and arrested. These acts allegedly included groping, forcing one victim to strip naked and sexually assaulting another. In multiple cases, Ellis allegedly used his firearm to intimidate victims and instructed at least one to not tell anyone.

 Joey Lamar Ellis

"The indictment accuses Ellis of leveraging his authority to intimidate victims, demanding money or, in more disturbing instances, forcing them into unwanted sexual acts," said Hamdani. "This alleged breach of public trust underscores the horror of those using their power for alleged unlawful gains, leaving communities questioning the integrity of their protectors."

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The FBI and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad Khandelwal and Rebekah Saunders are prosecuting the case.

Authorities are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim or knows someone who was to fill out the FBI’s Seeking Victims online form or contact the FBI Houston Field Office at 713-693-5000.

The Source: The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas posted a press release announcing the federal indictment against Ellis.

Crime and Public SafetyHouston