Los Angeles police have arrested a well-known tattoo artist in the city on suspicion of sexual assault, and detectives are now calling for any additional victims to come forward. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Charles Wayne Wilkerson IV, also known by his Instagram handle "frankokhalifa" and his rap persona "Franko Khalifa," was taken into custody on October 29, and faces charges of rape and forced oral copulation, according to a KTLA report.
The incidents in question occurred at Wilkerson's South Central Los Angeles tattoo shop in December 2023 and at a residence in February 2024, both involving 25-year-old female victims; he has been charged with two counts of rape of drugged or intoxicated victims, one count of forced oral copulation, and one count of oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, as per the official statements released by the Los Angeles Police Department on their website. He currently remains in custody with a set bail of $300,000 facing serious allegations detectives allege that he gained the trust of young women seeking his tattoo services before assaulting them.
Further detailing the case, CBS News Los Angeles relayed that investigators are urging others who may have been victimized to step forward and that Wilkerson pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his next court appearance scheduled for the following week. "Once he gained their trust, the assault occurred," detectives were quoted saying in a CBS News Los Angeles article, highlighting the trust that victims had placed in Wilkerson before the alleged crimes took place.
Retrieved comments from LAPD Detectives underscore the gravity of the accusations; "He preyed upon young women who hired him for his tattoo artistry," Detective Robert Smey told KTLA, his words serving as a testament to the betrayal of trust allegedly exploited by Wilkerson. With Wilkerson's photo disseminated to the public, anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact LAPD’s Southwest Division Sexual Assault investigators and may do so anonymously via the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline, as recommended by both KTLA and the official LAPD news release.
