Federal grand jury indicts Kentucky woman, Tennessee man for sex trafficking conspiracy

A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment March 8, charging a Tennessee man with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The indictment further charged that the defendant conspired with a Kentucky woman to commit that crime.
 
According to the indictment, between Aug. 8 and 11, 2022, 36-year-old Portier Q. Govan of Memphis used force, threats of force and coercion to compel an adult woman to engage in commercial sex. The indictment also charges Govan and 24-year-old Brittany R. Howard, of Bowling Green, with entering an agreement to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. 
 
Govan made his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky March 20. Howard is expected to make her initial appearance later this week. If convicted of sex trafficking, Govan faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to life imprisonment. If convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, Govan and Howard face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. 
 
The Bowling Green Police Department and the FBI Louisville Office investigated the case.