Knoxville man and woman face human trafficking charges

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UPDATE: April 8, 2015 - Feds indict Knox County man on Sex Trafficking

A Farragut man arrested during a prostitution sting at a West Knox County motel in 2013 now is indicted on federal charges of sex trafficking by force, as well as felony drug possession.

A Knox County grand jury returned a four-count indictment Tuesday against Marcus Douglas Washington, 37, on two counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone; and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.

Washington initially was arrested in September 2013 by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit during an investigation into escorts for hire on the website backpage.com.

During the undercover operation, detectives arrested a woman for prostitution at the Red Roof Inn in Cedar Bluff, but found Washington waiting in the woman’s car in the motel parking lot, according to a KCSO news release.

A pat down revealed that Washington had $630 in cash, two cell phones and a prescription bottle for 90 oxycodone pills that had been filled the day before but only contained 39 pills. Two rocks of crack cocaine and half an oxycodone pill also were discovered in his pocket, the release states.

The woman who was arrested in the sting had bruises and later told detectives she previously had suffered severe injuries from Washington, and that he had threatened her and her family.

The federal indictment indicates that Washington forced at least one other person into prostitution as well.

He currently is serving a three-year sentence in state prison, after being convicted of aggravated burglary in Knox County Criminal Court in December 2014.

Washington’s local criminal history also includes previous convictions for assault, domestic assault, unlawful weapons possession and drug possession.

He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison on either count of sex trafficking and up to 20 years in prison on the drug charges, according to federal prosecutors.

Knoxville,TN: Sept 25th, 2013

The Knox County Sheriff's Office said its arrested a Knoxville man for human trafficking. According to KCSO's website, Marcus Douglas Washington, 36, was originally arrested on drug charges and promoting prostitution along with Kristina Cohen, 26. According to KCSO, detectives got a human trafficking warrant for Washington on Friday morning.

KCSO said Washington was arrested during an investigation into online escort services. An undercover detective called a number listed on a website and set up an appointment to meet with Cohen at The Red Roof Inn on Advantage Place on Wednesday.

According to KCSO, a detective met with Cohen and made a verbal contract for sexual favors for one hour for $160. Cohen was then taken into custody and told authorities Washington set up the appointment and advertised her on the website.

Authorities located Washington in Cohen's car in the motel's parking lot. Detectives found $630 in cash, 2 cell phones, and a prescription bottle for oxycodone which had been filled for 90 pills the day prior but only contained 39 pills. They also found two crack rocks and half an oxycodone pill in his shorts pocket.

According to warrants, Cohen had bruises and had suffered previous severe injuries from Washington. She also said he had threatened her and her family.

Washington has an extensive criminal history and is being held in the Knox County Detention Facility on $64,000 bond.

Authorities charged Cohen with promoting prostitution. KCSO said she was also wanted in Roane County for violation of probation on a theft charge.