Nearly a year after it was discovered that a former executive assistant to the president at Fort Valley State University was linked to a prostitution ring involving members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., more charges were brought against Alecia Johnson, who allegedly served as ringleader for the entire operation.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Johnson was slapped with charges of whoring and pimping last Friday, which adds to her six counts of prostitution and accusations of conspiracy to commit fiduciary theft. The six other suspects in the case include an assistant principal and a local pastor.
The revelation of the scandal has prompted AKA officials to revoke the Alpha Beta chapter authorities, per The Telegraph.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that Johnson and the remaining suspects are facing up to one year behind bars and other damages for each pimping charge while pandering is punishable with another year in prison along with a $5,000 fine. In terms of solicitation of sodomy and prostitution, that comes with no more than one year in jail and an additional $1,000 fine for each charge.
The state of Georgia began investigating Johnson after she was reported to have assisted students looking to earn money for their Alpha Kappa Alpha pledge fees in finding clients for paid sex acts. The state's inquiry found six men agreed to become Johnson's customers; one of these men, Charles Jones, was formerly a Fort Valley official.
When the allegations first came about in April 2018, the sorority issued the following statement:
“We were appalled to learn of allegations of sexual misconduct against a Fort Valley State University employee who also is a graduate member of the sorority.These allegations are in no way representative of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s 110-year service-based mission or its nearly 300,000 members,” the statement read. “We condemn these allegations in the strongest possible terms.
We remain dedicated to our mission to encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, promote unity, alleviate problems concerning girls and women, create opportunities for them to pursue higher education and be of service to millions of people around the world annually.”
The university initially told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the information provided to the publication by GBI Special Agent J.T. Ricketson was inaccurate.
“Statements published . . . by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are distressing at best and false in detail. We have asked that this agent be removed from any further involvement in the case," the university said in a statement.
“On April 5, 2018, administrators from Fort Valley State University received two separate reports of alleged wrongdoing. One report was made anonymously as a tip on a campus complaint hotline. The second report was made separately by an employee to the campus Title IX coordinator. The [University System of Georgia] in conjunction with FVSU began an immediate investigation in accordance with its policies.”
The alleged wrongdoing became known during a board of regents visit to Fort Valley. A student mentioned it to a regent, who reported it to the state attorney general’s office.