Jonesboro Man Accused of Human Trafficking Out of Motel

JONESBORO, Ark. – A man is facing charges including trafficking a person after authorities say they found evidence that a prostitute at a motel was transferring the majority of her income to him on Cash App.

Pierre Letwan Pertiller, 39, of Jonesboro, is being charged with trafficking of persons, a class Y felony punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. He also faces an obstructing governmental operations charge, a misdemeanor.

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The probable cause affidavit states that on July 30, 2024, officers with the Jonesboro Police Department were in the area of the Motel 6, located at the 2300-block of South Caraway Road. While on patrol, police made contact with Pertiller, who was known to officers to be on probation. Officers asked him where he had been and where he was going, but, according to the affidavit, he became defensive and refused to answer. Officers reported knowing Pertiller routinely stayed at the motel but he claimed he did not stay there and refused to give any other information.

Police contacted his probation officer, who explained that the conditions of his probation allowed his cell phone to be searched. Officers asked for the password but again, Pertiller refused to answer. He was handcuffed and arrested for obstruction of governmental operations. He then provided the passcode to the police.

Officers accessed the phone to find the room number he was staying in, but they reportedly found something else. When they opened the phone, Cash App was already open and showed “numerous transactions from an account under a false name with a total of $8,000.” Police also found messages on the phone with the implication that the woman was working as a prostitute out of the motel and that the majority of her income was being transferred to Pertiller.

Eventually, officers learned the room number, so they went to make contact. There, the affidavit says a woman, whom we are not identifying, answered the door. Her photo was reported to be associated with the falsely named Cash App profile. Officers learned she was on probation, too, which gave them the right to search her. In her phone, police reported finding several messages making arrangements with potential customers including half hour and hourly rates. The woman had been staying in the room since May.

On July 30, Sgt. Bill Brown contacted her at the motel. The woman stated she was okay when asked. She said she had been with Pertiller since around April and she would have to give money to him through Cash App to pay for her room and food. She stated that she calculated making over $7,000 and giving the money to Pertiller, which left her nothing for herself and no way to leave. She also said Pertiller threatened her with getting her arrested and to take her dog away. She described the dog as a service animal and said he was more than just a pet.

The woman told police she knew what she was doing was illegal but she feared Pertiller would have her arrested, which could cause her to lose everything. She stated she felt like she had no choice but to continue doing this for him, adding that he would become angry with her if she didn’t make enough money, causing her fear. She said she was tired of the way Pertiller was doing her and wanted out.

On Wednesday, Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge Pertiller with trafficking of persons. The judge mentioned a previous conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material on Pertiller’s record. Throughout the entire bond hearing, Pertiller argued with the judge, saying that he had no such conviction. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katie Calaway also corroborated the conviction.

Pertiller, who did not exercise his right to remain silent, also insisted he was being falsely arrested merely because he was sent money on Cash App.

The judge set a $250,000 cash-only bond as a condition for his release. A no contact order with the victim was also set by the judge. However, court documents show Pertiller refused to review and sign any of the paperwork.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.