Prostitution ring busted; 2 men booked

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police responded to a disturbance at Extended Stay Suites and found three women and a teenage girl who were being advertised online as prostitutes -- and eventually arrested the two men who were promoting their services. Later, one of the three "women" also turned out to be just 15 years old.

Police were called March 27 to the hotel at 6300 E. Highway 290 . They were directed to Room 237 where there'd been a fight, according to hotel staff.

Police found the two men -- Jasper Dewayne Putilla and Tacorey Markeith Gilliam -- and three women whom police found were listed on a website commonly used for prostitution advertisement. One of the people had clearly been assaulted, according to the police affidavit, though the report doesn't state if it was a man or a woman.

Officers found a 16-year-old girl in the room who they said was wearing a skirt so short "she could not effectively cover herself up."

Cell phones in the room were used for business, police said, and contained nude photographs of the 16-year-old girl. One of the phones belonged to Putilla.

As police investigated the case, they found online escort ads with photos of one of the women which also had Putilla's phone number listed on it. However, during the investigation, police learned this "woman" is only 15 years old.

On April 14, Williamson County Sheriff's Office conducted a prostitution sting and found Gilliam, Putilla and the 15-year-old, who was using an assumed name. She later told police she had prostituted herself that morning at Motel 6, 5330 N. Interstate 35.

Putilla admitted to providing security for the two teenage girls while they were serving as prostitutes throughout the state of Texas, according to the affidavit. He told police the girls would "settle up" with him at the end of the day, giving him cash. He admitted, police said, to posting the online ad for the 15-year-old.

Gilliam allegedly rented the hotel room under his name and admitted to providing transportation and lodging the group, throughout the state of Texas.

Putilla and Gilliam were arrested and charged with compelling prostitution, a second-degree felony.