Picayune Police arrest dozens on prostitution offenses

Published 7:00 am Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Picayune Police Department arrested 24 suspects during the last month for procuring prostitution as part of an undercover sting operation named “Pay to Play.”

The operation included joint efforts by multiple divisions of the Picayune Police Department, said Assistant Chief Dustin Moeller. The operation was initiated after the department received numerous complaints about prostitution related activity at local motels, he said.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

This is the first time the department has conducted an operation focused on prostitution in a several years, Moeller said.

One of the suspects is a registered sex offender.

“Prostitution is the third most lucrative and profitable crime in the country, behind drugs and firearm trafficking,” Moeller said. “There’s a direct link between it and the use and sale of illegal narcotics.”

Several of the individuals arrested were also charged with drug related offenses, Moeller said, and quite of a few of them allegedly wanted to trade drugs for sex. The drug trade and sex crimes go hand in hand, said Det. Mike Decelle.

Multiple suspects had guns and knives on their person when they were arrested, said Lt. Rhonda Johnson, assistant CID commander.

“Anybody who participates in this, they’re putting themselves at risk to be murdered, raped and trafficked,” Johnson said.

Prostitution can be dangerous to all parties involved, Johnson said.

“Everyone knows drugs are dangerous, even children know that, but meeting people that you don’t know—that’s very dangerous,” Moeller said.

Investigators did not uncover evidence of human trafficking in the course of this operation, said Moeller. The operation is ongoing.

Suspects

Shannon Charles House, 46, 1152 Henleyfield McNeill Rd., Carriere, was arrested for procuring prostitution and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Gordon Richard Howard, 65, 6168 West Kemper St., Bay St. Louis, was arrested for procuring prostitution and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Mickey Lee Eaton, 41, 1625 Martin Bluff, Gautier, was arrested for procuring prostitution and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Slade Hiram Smith, 24, 48 Wolf Ridge Lane, Poplarville, was arrested for procuring prostitution and possession of paraphernalia.

Anthony Orlando Wright, Jr., 31, 1340 Reynes St., New Orleans, La., was arrested for procuring prostitution, possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance.

Rafael Mendez Falla, 62, 282 Big Lake Rd., Apt. 22, Biloxi, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Shelby Lynn Peeples, 53, 42 Magnolia Dr., Picayune, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Darren Ken Frame, 48, 14 Vicki Lane, Picayune, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Michael Clayborne Creekmore, 43, 104 Oyster Catcher Cove, Ocean Springs, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Gavin Michael Sanchez, 34, 31 Cove Lake Rd., Carriere, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Terry Joseph Knope, 70, 19305 North Shaw Rd., Saucier, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Charlie Virgil Alexander, 50, 300 Beasley Alexander Rd., Carriere, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Frank Robinson McCreary, 37, 10250 English Manner Rd., Gulfport, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Richard Douglas Pyke, 48, 583 Burgetown Rd., Carriere, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Norman Carlyle Selvog, 74, 17223 Bomb Ridge Dr., D’Iverville, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Lionel Henry Morales, Jr., 63, 37 Green Meadow Place, Picayune, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Daniel Ray Collins, 35, 26349 Wolf Creek Rd., Kiln, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

James Edward Jenkins, 57, 25051 Katie Dr., Picayune, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Anthony Henry Debarbieris, Jr., 49, 1617 Barrymore St., Slidell, La., was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Long Thanh Nguyen, 27, 357 Wingate Dr., Baton Rouge, La., was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Joshua Patrick Finnegan, 37, 544 Baker Rd., Purvis, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Rene Marshal Richard, 53, 24503 Sanders Rd., Covington, La., was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Michael James Filibeck, 20, 18649 Reese Dr., Saucier, was arrested for procuring prostitution.

Jonathan Alvin Thomas, 46, 809 Cow Circle, Waveland, Miss., was arrested for procuring prostitution.