Federal prosecutors have widened their case against a former Houston urban park ranger, accusing him of using his city uniform and vehicle to detain, extort and sexually assault men in local parks. A superseding indictment unsealed this month lays out what authorities say is a broader pattern of abuse and adds gun-related charges. The suspect has remained in custody since 2024 while investigators gathered complaints, payment records and other evidence.
New indictment expands charges
According to the first superseding indictment filed May 12 and available via CourtListener, Joey Lamar Ellis, 35, now faces 12 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, multiple counts alleging brandishing a firearm, and an obstruction and witness-tampering count. Each deprivation-of-rights charge corresponds to a different alleged victim, the filing states.
Allegations of coercion and assault
Prosecutors and local reporting say Ellis used his ranger uniform and city truck to misrepresent his authority, at times activating emergency lights, blocking vehicles and taking victims’ phones or IDs as leverage to demand money or sexual acts, according to the Houston Chronicle. The Chronicle reports that the new filing increases the number of alleged victims to 12, up from eight named in an earlier indictment.
How investigators say he operated
The indictment describes a recurring pattern in which Ellis allegedly accused men of criminal conduct in parks, demanded a so‑called “drop tow fee,” and in some cases ordered victims to strip or perform sexual acts while he kept their property. Prosecutors say the city’s Parks and Recreation Department began tracking his assigned vehicle after complaints surfaced in April 2024 and discovered he sometimes drove to parks where he was not assigned. The filing notes that several victims were robbed after that tracking began, details that are included in the indictment.
FBI outreach and possible targeting
The FBI’s Houston Division publicly sought potential victims in September 2024 and posted a confidential questionnaire for anyone who believed they had been extorted or sexually assaulted by Ellis, noting that investigators were probing possible civil-rights violations and that some victims may have been targeted because of their real or perceived sexuality, according to the FBI. The bureau said responses could help identify victims and connect them with services.
What the law allows
Deprivation-of-rights counts under 18 U.S.C. § 242 carry escalating penalties that depend on aggravating factors: the basic offense has limited terms, but if bodily injury or a weapon is involved, the statute allows longer sentences, and where aggravated sexual abuse or kidnapping is implicated, penalties can include life imprisonment, per the U.S. Code. That framework is cited as one reason federal prosecutors pursued multiple deprivation-of-rights counts in the superseding indictment.
Where the case stands
Ellis has been held in federal custody since 2024, and no federal trial dates have been set, according to the Houston Chronicle. Local reporting from ABC13 states that his June 2024 arrest at Cullen Park followed a complaint from a man who said he was forced to strip and then robbed; police say they recovered a gun and a victim’s identification from Ellis at the time, and additional victims later came forward.
Background
Hoodline previously covered the initial federal indictment in December 2024, along with early public reporting on park complaints and the FBI’s involvement. For our earlier piece, see the initial federal indictment coverage for background on how the probe began.
Anyone who believes they were contacted by Ellis or has relevant information is asked to complete the FBI Houston questionnaire or contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The FBI posted the victim form as part of its outreach in 2024, and prosecutors say tips remain central to building the federal case. Investigators report they are continuing to review tipline responses as the superseding indictment moves forward.
