DETROIT – An indictment filed in federal court Wednesday and unsealed Thursday describes the extent of the crime organization that was headquartered at the Victory Inn on Michigan Avenue in Detroit.
The Victory Inn has been closed since police agencies raided it in January.
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A fire ripped through the building Wednesday.
Six defendants are named in the indictment are each facing a laundry list of charges. The charges include:
Darrick Dernard Bell, also known as “Tone” and “Ghost,” is facing the following charges:
- sex trafficking conspiracy
- two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion
- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- two counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury; aiding and abetting
- maintaining drug-involved premises; aiding and abetting
Janette Gaggo, also known as “Janette Tawfik,” a clerk at the hotel, is facing the following charges:
- sex trafficking conspiracy
- two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion
- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury; aiding and abetting
- maintaining drug-involved premises; aiding and abetting
Shelvie Lewis Avery, also known as “Q,” is facing the following charges:
- sex trafficking conspiracy
- two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion
- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- maintaining drug-involved premises; aiding and abetting
Terry Pruitt, also known as “T,” is facing the following charges:
- sex trafficking conspiracy
- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- two counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury; aiding and abetting
- maintaining drug-involved premises; aiding and abetting
Harold Lashawn Nero, also known as Nephew,” is facing the following charges:
- sex trafficking conspiracy
- two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion
- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- two counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury; aiding and abetting
- maintaining drug-involved premises; aiding and abetting
Michael Anthony Randol, also known as “Man,” is facing the following charges:
- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
- possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- maintaining drug-involved premises; aiding and abetting
Randol was previously charged with conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States, distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, continuing criminal enterprise and sex trafficking.
Avery is believed to have been one of the leaders in the prostitution ring. He will remain behind bars until trial.
According to the indictment, the conspirators used the Victory Inn as headquarters to run their drug and sex trafficking organization.
All defendants named in the indictment, with the exception of Randol, are alleged to have conspired in a sex trafficking conspiracy, recruiting and benefiting from commercial sex acts. The indictment alleges that the business was run through threats for force and coercion.
Authorities said the defendants held meetings at the Victory Inn and used it as a hub for deliveries of cocaine and heroin. The indictment also says they “managed and controlled, including as occupants, and rented, leased, and profited from, and made available for use, rooms at the Victory Inn to conduct their organized narcotic distribution activities.”
The defendants also used the internal hotel video surveillance and human lookouts to monitor the organized narcotic distribution activities, according to the indictment.
The complaint lists Janette Gaggo as an employee of the hotel and alleges she knowingly allowed the hotel to be used “for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, and using Schedule I controlled substance and Schedule II controlled substance.”