LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) – Two people were indicted on March 8 after a sex trafficking investigation in Bowling Green.

According to the Department of Justice, Portier Q. Govan, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Brittany R. Howard, 24, of Bowling Green, were indicted after a sex trafficking investigation. A news release said between Aug. 8 and 11, 2022, Govan used force, threats of force, and coercion to compel a woman to engage in commercial sex, and Howard agreed to help Govan commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.

An Aug. 12, 2022, news release from the Bowling Green Police Department said officers were called to the Ramada Inn on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green. Govan initially told police a man pulled a gun on him in the hotel parking lot, but police determined this was not true.

After further investigation police found two women, one of the appearing to be scared. The visually frightened woman told the officers she met Govan and Howard at a gas station several days prior. The woman went with the two agreeing to hang out in the hotel before they took her phone and keys and forced her to engage in sexual activities with multiple men.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Govan had his initial court appearance on Monday and Howard is expected to have her initial appearance soon.

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 of life imprisonment.