Executive Summary
- Inmate Charquion Pope indicted by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics for human trafficking.
- Allegations claim Pope ran the operation from inside Mack Alford Correctional Center.
- Investigators linked Pope’s phone number to commercial sex advertisements.
- A Victim Recovery Operation found evidence of Pope collecting money from the scheme.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) has formally indicted Charquion Pope, an inmate currently incarcerated at the Mack Alford Correctional Center, on allegations of directing a human trafficking operation from within the prison facility. The indictment, announced following a comprehensive investigation, charges Pope with additional felonies related to the exploitation of victims while serving his current sentence in Oklahoma City.
According to OBN officials, the investigation was initiated after intelligence suggested illicit activities were being coordinated from the correctional center. Investigators allege that Pope utilized a mobile device to link his phone number to online commercial sex advertisements. The bureau’s probe indicates that Pope was able to facilitate these external transactions despite his incarceration.
During a specialized Victim Recovery Operation, OBN agents reportedly secured evidence confirming that Pope had advertised a victim for commercial sex acts. Furthermore, investigators stated that Pope successfully collected financial proceeds from these illicit engagements. The bureau has not released specific details regarding the condition of the recovered victim or the duration of the alleged operation.
Correctional Oversight and Public Safety
This case underscores a critical vulnerability in correctional facility security regarding the presence of contraband communication devices. The ability of an inmate to allegedly manage a complex human trafficking network from behind bars highlights the persistent challenge law enforcement faces in severing criminal enterprises from their incarcerated leadership. This incident is likely to prompt a review of interdiction protocols and monitoring systems within state penitentiaries to ensure public safety is maintained beyond the prison walls.
It is important to note that all individuals, including Charquion Pope, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
