Sting Operations to Reduce Sex Traffickers in Ohio

Photo: Lindy Griesinger 

Plastered in bathroom stalls across rest stops on the Ohio Turnpike, victims or those who might know someone being forced to sell sex are encouraged to take a number and report human trafficking.  

 

Sting Operations to Reduce Sex Traffickers in Ohio

By Lindy Griesinger 

In a recent sting operation led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, called “Operation Buyer’s Remorse,” local law enforcement covered every part of Ohio to target and arrest 160 individuals, mostly men, for sex trafficking. 

The joint effort took place Sept. 25-30 and involved agencies in and around major cities such as Akron, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown, Portsmouth and Mariettta. 

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office lifted jurisdictions to law enforcement to pursue as many suspects as possible. 

“It’s critical because human traffickers aren’t paying attention to city limit signs or what county they’re in,” said AG Yost. 

Human trafficking is an illegal business in which traffickers often steal, trick, or physically force victims into selling commercial sex.  

“Victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions,” said the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 

Law enforcement from nearly 100 agencies joined the effort to catch sex buyers across Ohio by setting up sting operations. 

The sting operations took place across Ohio departments with the primary goal being to apprehend and identify those involved in the solicitation of human sex trafficking as well as identifying survivors and providing them services such as housing, food and clothing. 

The Ohio Investigative Unit said the operation was conducted by undercover task force agents posting ads on websites known for soliciting prostitution.

“The suspects responded to the ads, requested sexual conduct and agreed to a price. Agents then responded with a location to meet, usually at a vacant house or hotel, and the arrest was made upon the suspect’s arrival,” said OIU. 

Operation Buyer’s Remorse was just one step in the right direction to reduce the number of sex purchasers that fuel the sex trafficking industry.

“What we’ve found recently is there’s sometimes large networks involved in this,” said Willoughby Police Chief James Schultz. “The people that are involved in it at the ground level are really victims. They’re compelled to do this, they’re forced to do this.” 

There was a wide age range in buyers, the youngest being 17 and the oldest 84.

“In one of our stings, we got a firefighter, we’ve got teachers, business people,” said Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree.

Fatheree believes it’s important the “Johns” are addressed and held accountable, otherwise the crimes will continue.

“It can be ‘Johns’ just looking for sexual encounters, but it could also be people that are looking for those individuals that are vulnerable to things that come along with human trafficking and then they exploit that,” said Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Harpster.  

House Bill 230 is moving forward through the state legislature in the House Homeland Committee. The bill, if passed, would increase the penalties for those who traffic humans and drugs. 

The bill would increase the charge for drug trafficking cases as well as human trafficking to a first-degree felony. It also expands on the existing definition of human trafficking. 

The changes to the bill were sponsored by representatives Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison, and D.J. Swearingan, R-Huron, in the beginning of October. As of Wednesday it is on the seventh hearing. 

“It is crucial that we take steps to protect our children and greater communities from the current drug and human trafficking epidemics,” said Abrams. 

The bill aims to stop the repeat offenders who clearly play a large role in the supply and demand in the trafficking business. 

“This bill will ensure that the appropriate individuals face consequences for their horrific actions. It is our responsibility to support law enforcement and protect all Ohioans,” said Swearingan in a statement released by the House of Representatives. 

 

 Location of Arrested Sex Workers In Operation Buyer’s Remorse: