Accused operator of prostitution ring, woman, indicted

The Jefferson County grand jury has indicted a man prosecutors call a pimp accused of running a prostitution operation.

The grand jury indicted Edwin James Johnson, 43, for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child.

The grand jury also indicted Jessica Gooden, 22, on the same charges. 

Investigators say Gooden and another woman are prostitutes and worked for Johnson.

Police say all three lived in a house on 8th Street in Port Arthur. The house stands out in the neighborhood. The house has a blue and white checkerboard pattern. Investigators say Johnson has several other homes with the same patterns.

The women accused of working for Johnson have tattoos with his name on them.

The women went by the street names of 'Snow' and 'Honey.'

Groves Police and other agencies worked the case last month and this month.

They say the trio targeted primarily Hispanic men who stayed at motels and worked at petrochemical plants.