Strat Hotel Guests Allegedly Kidnapped, Trafficked Juvenile Girl

Posted on: December 27, 2023, 05:53h. 

Last updated on: December 28, 2023, 10:22h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A man and a woman staying at The Strat hotel this month were scheduled to appear in Las Vegas court Wednesday on sex trafficking charges. They allegedly kidnapped and trafficked a teenaged girl over four days.

The defendants, Mark Johnson, 23, and Donnesha Ellis, 21, held the unnamed teen against her will in their hotel room while she worked the streets bringing money to Johnson, authorities said.

The couple was charged last Wednesday with two counts each of sex trafficking of a minor under 18, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, child abuse or neglect, and a single count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers interviewed the teenaged victim and were given access to her cell phone.

That evidence led to the arrest of Johnson, Ellis, and another woman, Alissa Isles, 19, who was identified as Johnson’s girlfriend.

Incriminating Texts

Police found incriminating texts on the victim’s phone.

Johnson once texted the victim, “Why haven’t you got any plays today?” — a reference to her not getting tricks from street work.

Also, Isles once texted the victim and suggested that the victim and another girl solicit tricks on the “Trop.” That’s a section of West Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas with a reputation for prostitution.

Isles further suggested that she not work in the same area as the victim, so they don’t create suspicion among local police who regularly patrol West Tropicana Avenue.

Also, Isles warned the victim “to be careful of undercover officers in the area.”

At another point, Ellis allegedly texted the victim “you still need to bring back something, or don’t come back.” That appears to be a reference to her bringing money to Johnson from tricks or not to return to the hotel room.

Earned Over 1.2K

In total, the victim earned $1,270 from sex trafficking over several days. The teen gave about half of the cash to Johnson and apparently kept half for herself.

The victim had been engaged in sex trafficking under the direction of Johnson and Isles for several days.

They initially met via a mutual friend, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The third suspect, Isles, was apprehended by police this week. But charges against her were not identified as of Tuesday.

It appears, so far, the victim wasn’t charged with crimes. Police didn’t identify her age or where she resided before hooking up with Johnson and Ellis.