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LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 - 23, 2019 • Page 7
Decatur Police Department held a Cocoa with the Po-Po event Jan. 11 at the bandstand in downtown Decatur.
‘Cocoa with the Po-po’
Decatur police deliver worm smiles, drinks
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Decatur police officers handed
out approximately 200 cups of hot
chocolate to teens on the Decatur
bandstand Jan. 11 for the department’s
first Cocoa with the Po-Po event.
Event organizers said the hot
chocolate giveaway was an opportunity
to meet with the city’s young residents.
Decatur police have previously
hosted Coffee with a Cop, which is
meant to target an older audience, in
various locations throughout the city,
said Decatur Police Sgt. John Bender.
The Cocoa with the Po-Po event was
specifically geared toward a younger
crowd, he said.
“We hadn’t really reached out to
the teenagers and middle schoolers
to build a relationship with them, so
what we decided was to do Cocoa with
the Po-Po,” Bender said. “We picked
a time and a place where all the kids
hang out.”
Bender said the bandstand in
downtown Decatur is a popular Friday
hangout spot for the city’s teenagers
and middle-schoolers.
“They usually come out here and
go to the local ice cream shops, so we
decided to come out and meet them
here and interact with them just like we
do coffee with a cop,” Bender said.
Cocoa with the Po-Po was
originally scheduled for Dec. 20,
but was postponed due to weather.
Members of the Decatur Youth Council
volunteered during the event and
distributed the hot chocolate. Decatur
police also provided marshmallows.
Officer Keck, who has been with
the Decatur Police Department for
more than five years, said she enjoyed
attending the Cocoa with the Po-Po
event.
“I enjoyed it. I think the high
schoolers were a little hesitant at first,
but I think they’re enjoying themselves
getting to talk with some of the
officers,” Keck said. “I think this helps
build great relationships.”
Prison sentence for commercial
sex enterprise couple
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Samuel Crenshaw and
Darliene Crenshaw are now
serving prison time after
pleading guilty to racketeering
and conspiracy in connection to
a commercial sex enterprise in
Dunwoody.
“This is an important first
step in attacking a serious
problem in our community,”
said DeKalb County District
Attorney Sherry Boston. “I am
thankful for the hard work and
investigative leadership of the
Dunwoody Police Department
in this case. It is my hope that
these convictions will send
a strong message that these
crimes will not be tolerated in
DeKalb County”
During the couple’s
investigation, it was proven
that between February of
2015 and August of 2016, the
Crenshaws operated a full-scale
commercial sex enterprise
under the business names
“Gold Club” and later “Fipstick
and Shoes.”
The Crenshaws used false
information to lease units at
three Dunwoody apartment
complexes for the purpose of
pairing “models” with clients
to engage in paid sexual
activities. They also conspired
to recruit employees, advertise,
secure locations and manage
appointments and payment
systems in furtherance of the
criminal enterprise.
The defendants were
arrested in December 2016
following a months-long
investigation by the Dunwoody
Police Department.
“It’s important that we do
not normalize this behavior on
the part of any participant,”
Boston said. “This is not a
victimless crime. I want to
do everything in my power to
make certain women and men
are not exploited in the sex
trade.”
Samuel Crenshaw, 51,
was sentenced to 20 years to
serve seven years in custody,
with the balance on probation.
He entered a guilty plea to
a single count of Violation
of the Racketeer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations
Samuel Crenshaw was sentenced to 20
years for racketeering and conspiracy.
Photos provided by DeKalb County
Sherriff’s Office
Act (RICO) during court
proceedings Dec. 28.
Darliene Crenshaw, 47,
pleaded guilty to the same
charge 10 days earlier. She was
sentenced to 20 years to serve
three years in custody, with the
balance on probation.
The couple surrendered to
authorities on Jan. 6 to begin
serving their sentences.
In total, 62 individuals,
including the Crenshaws, were
charged. The indictment is the
Darliene Crenshaw was also sentenced
to 20 years for racketeering and
conspiracy.
largest of its type in DeKalb
history. The charges range
from RICO, to pandering
and prostitution. Individuals
charged include George
Moore, Tara Lee Gilleo and
Giovene Burkhalter.
Defendants charged with
prostitution were referred to
counseling and programs for
survivors of sex trafficking.
They must also submit to drug
and STD testing.
