The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office shared Saturday morning that task force partners engaged in the Operation Spring Cleaning during the week of May 11.
LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio - The Lorain County Sheriff ’s Office shared Saturday morning that task force partners engaged in the Operation Spring Cleaning during the week of May 11.
The Huron County Sheriff’s Office, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office participating in the state-wide operation to actively combat sex trafficking by focusing on illicit massage parlors offering sexual activity for sale. RELATED COVERAGE: More than 100 people arrested in statewide human trafficking sting, including Cleveland firefighter During the statewide operation, 122 suspects were arrested with 13 of them being local. Four survivors of sex trafficking were also rescued.
During the week, the human trafficking task force executed a search warrant at King Me Massage Parlor at 35111 Royalton Road in Eaton Township. The sheriff’s office said the search warrant executed was part of an ongoing multi-state investigation into the parlor for illegal activity. Money was seized, several women were interviewed and victims were referred for services. The business was closed by HEAL and the investigation is ongoing.
The women were brought to the U.S. under a ruse they would be part of a work-study program to obtain higher education degrees, but instead, they were forced into an illicit sex trade operation involving multiple massage parlors across the country. The HEAL task force provided the victims with temporary housing and means to be reunited with their families in their home countries.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office said the task force carried out another operation on Friday at various locations around Lorain County, which focused on the exploitation of human victims forced to engage in commercial sex acts. During the operation, investigation, investigators arrested 13 individuals who were allegedly seeking to engage in commercial sexual activity with adults and minors.
The men arrested are:Joshua Deblasis, of Parma: Trafficking of persons - commercial sex actsBrent Mitchell, of Elyria: Procuring use of premises for prostitutionBo Dunigan, of Parma: Engaging in prostitutionTerry Paugh, of North Olmsted: Procuring, soliciting prostitutionMatthew Hoke, of Tiffin: Engaging in prostitutionVincent Digennaro, of Elyria: Engaging in prostitutionAll the suspects were transported to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office where they were charged. In addition to the arrests, investigators seized two firearms from individuals encountered during the operation.
The presence of firearms underscores the dangers associated with these illicit transactions, the sheriff’s office said. Of significant interest, investigators rescued a 43-year-old woman originally from Lorain County who had been trafficked into illicit sex-for-hire operation in Las Vegas, Nevada. The victim was brought to Lorain County, not to return home, but to continue to be engaged in forced sexual activity for hire, the sheriff’s office said.
She was recovered by investigators at a local hotel, and is being provided humanitarian and legal services. Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall praised the efforts of HEAL on social media, and thanked all of the agencies who were involved. Anyone with information regarding human trafficking or suspicious activity in Huron, Erie, Ashland or Lorain County is encouraged to contact the HEAL Human Trafficking Task Force at 284-0615, Inspector Coll at 329-3861, or Agent Aviles at 329-3850.
Cleveland Asian Festival shuts down over capacity issuesFirst Alert Focus: Memorial Day Climatology
Ashland County Sheriff Erie County Sheriff Huron County Sheriff King Me Massage Parlor Forest Gullet Joshua Deblasis Luke Ilersich Brent Mitchell Bo Dunigan Jeffery Buckhannon Shamar Malik Lucky Terry Paugh Veli Lavikka Matthew Hoke Ronald Morgan Vincent Digennaro Labar E Kittleberger Parma Parma Ohio Cleveland Elyria Elyria Ohio Cleveland Ohio 35111 Royalton Road In Eaton Township Eaton Township Heal Heal Task Force Las Vegas Nevada Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall 19 News Ohio Attorney General
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lorain High School moves graduation ceremony indoors ahead of potential severe weatherLorain High School announced Thursday that the Class of 2026 graduation ceremony will be held inside the Lorain High School Gymnasium due to potential severe weather Saturday.
Read more »
How 'The Rocket Car' became a Northeast Ohio institutionLong before it turned heads and roared on the road, the Rocket Car, a 28-foot-long stainless steel machine, flew in the sky at Euclid Beach Park.
Read more »
Methodist Hospital Northeast opens new heart and lung specialty center on Northeast sideSAN ANTONIO - A new heart and lung specialty center is now open at Methodist Hospital Northeast, bringing advanced heart failure services closer to home for res
Read more »
Northeast Ohio weather: Rain moves in today, damp start to holiday weekendA low pressure system will bring a steady batch of rain to the region starting later this afternoon.
Read more »