Ex-Park Ranger Allegedly Targeted Gay Men In Massive Sexual Assault And Extortion Plot

A former park ranger in Houston, Texas, is accused of cornering gay men late at night in order to sexually assault them and extort them for money.

Joey Lamar Ellis, 34, was charged in federal court with 20 counts for abusing his authority and for violating the civil rights of at least eight victims, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of Texas announced on Tuesday.

The FBI said Ellis targeted LGBTQ+ people and others at Cullen, Memorial, and other Houston area parks. Federal authorities are asking anyone who may be a victim to come forward.

Court records show Ellis was initially arrested in June on state charges of sexual assault and official oppression, and was released on bail in August. The state case remains ongoing, and Ellis’ defense attorney, Ryan Fremuth, told local TV station KHOU 11 that he was not aware of the federal indictment. He told KHOU he and Ellis intend “to fight this case with every fiber of our being” and that Ellis “stands by his innocence.”

Federal prosecutors alleged that Ellis, who was a park ranger from 2019 until June of this year, used his patrol vehicle to park behind men’s cars to prevent them from leaving during his overnight shifts, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by HuffPost. He then allegedly accused them of committing crimes or of being in the park in order to have sex with other men. He would threaten to have their car towed or to arrest them, and would show that he had a gun.

According to the indictment, Ellis would then offer the men a way out by demanding money or sexual acts.

Joshua Beede told ABC affiliate KTRK in June that he was sleeping in his car at Cullen Park when Ellis approached him in his uniform.

“He said he was going to have my car towed away. I was going to be arrested, sent downtown and see a judge the next morning,” Beede told the outlet.

Beede said Ellis took his ID, demanded cash and ordered him to help lure gay men to the park through a dating app, according to the outlet. Beede called 911 following the interaction.

Ellis was again taken into custody following the new indictment and has a detention hearing set in federal court for Thursday.

“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,” U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani wrote in Tuesday’s announcement.

Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.