Fugitive Sought in Sex Trafficking of Minors Case

GALVESTON, Texas – A criminal complaint charging three Galveston residents has been unsealed alleging they engaged in a conspiracy to traffic minors for sexual purposes and financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

The criminal complaint was filed under seal April 21, 2015, and charges Charles Devan Fulton Sr., 39, Charmell Potts, 32, and Dominque Warner, 23. It was unsealed in Galveston federal court today as Warner was ordered into custody pending further criminal proceedings. Potts was previously ordered into custody where she will also remain. Fulton is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.

Fulton is alleged to have coerced several young females into prostitution. The victims were advertised on websites commonly known for publicizing commercial sex. The complaint further alleges that Fulton would not rent rooms himself; therefore, Potts and Warner would do so at area hotels to use for prostitution involving the young girls. The complaint also alleges Warner would drive the girls to the locations, wait until they were finished, then drive them back to Fulton’s residence in Galveston. Potts also drove the girls and would keep some of the monies earned, according to the complaint. Fulton would allegedly keep the remainder of all of the monies the victims earned.

A reward of up to $5000 is being offered by the FBI and Crime Stoppers for information that leads to the arrest of Fulton.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Houston office of the FBI at 713-693-5000 or call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477). Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or visit www.crime-stoppers.org. All tipsters remain anonymous.

Beginning today, Clear Channel Outdoor will post messages on digital billboards across the Greater Houston and Galveston County area to publish the reward and a picture of the fugitive. Clear Channel Outdoor is donating space and time on its digital billboards as a public service to the community.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the FBI and Galveston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack is prosecuting the case.

The prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.