132 arrested as Operation END-OHHT targets those allegedly seeking to buy sex in Ohio
A statewide human-trafficking operation conducted last week by more than 100 law enforcement agencies ended in the arrest of 132 people who sought to buy sex – including some exchanges involving minors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday.
“We have to attack this scourge by curbing the demand,” Yost said. “This operation aimed to hold accountable those who exploit survivors or fuel human trafficking by agreeing to pay for sex.”
Led by AG Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), Operation END-OHHT took place from Oct. 6 through Oct. 12 in 19 counties, including major activities in Akron, Columbus, Cleveland, Marietta, Portsmouth, Toledo and the Mahoning Valley area.
The sweeping collaborative effort, named after Ohio’s new human trafficking hotline (844-END-OHHT), was led by OOCIC’s eight human trafficking and major crime task forces, with a dozen other local law enforcement agencies also participating.
Those arrested included 110 “johns,” who face charges of engaging in prostitution or solicitation, as well as 22 individuals charged with felonies for seeking commercial sex with a minor and/or possessing narcotics.
The suspects have diverse backgrounds – from laborers and government employees to students and business owners – and range in age from 21 to 71.
Throughout the operation, authorities also identified 74 human-trafficking survivors, referring them to health-care and social-service organizations.
In addition, the OOCIC task forces furthered several long-term investigations by raiding nine locations that had been linked to human trafficking, including several massage parlors and a motel. They seized more $20,000 and other related evidence.
“Operation END-OHHT reinforced the consequences for those who think that engaging in prostitution is permissible,” Yost said. “Our message is simple: Don’t buy sex in Ohio.”
Operation Highlights
• The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
— Advanced two long-term investigations in arresting Terrance Cummings, 29, of Columbus on federal charges of sexual exploitation of a minor; possession, distribution and receipt of child pornography; coercion and enticement of a minor; and obstruction of justice. Anthony Simms, 56, was federally indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and sex trafficking of a minor.
— Along with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Edson David Aguilera Ramos, a citizen of Honduras with no legal U.S. status, after he responded to an online advertisement offering sex with a female he believed to be 15. Ramos was charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
• The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:
— Charged Raymond Masters, 55, of Chester, W.Va., with engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools. Masters is a registered sex offender.
• The Montgomery County Human Trafficking Task Force:
— Charged Charles Arnold, 55, of Dayton, and Jeffrey Startzman, 68, of Brookville, with solicitation. Arnold is a chief fire inspector for the Ohio Department of Commerce; Startzman is a former prosecutor and magistrate and a current board member for Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services.
— Arrested Alfonso Rodriguez, 45, of the Dominican Republic; Dennis Armando Doban, 25, of Honduras; and Kelvin Nimako, 23, of Ghana. Each is charged with importuning.
— Charged two Dayton men – Ryan Pace, 58, and John Dady, 53 – with importuning and possession of criminal tools.
• The Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
— Executed search warrants in Lake County at three Painesville massage parlors where human trafficking is suspected: Tang Yun Spa, at 1935 Mentor Ave.; QQ Spa, 2000 Mentor Ave. and Sunrise Spa, 1400 Mentor Ave. Six potential survivors were interviewed and offered services; two individuals remain under investigation and could face charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Authorities seized $19,399.
— Executed a search warrant in East Cleveland at McCall’s Motel, where human trafficking is suspected. Officers seized $1,975, three handguns and narcotics.
• The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
— Charged John Hughes, 35, with two felony counts of pandering for seeking to buy sex from a minor. Hughes works for the Ohio Treasurer’s Office and referees high-school athletics.
— Charged five men with pandering, including Columbus-area residents Quin Liston, 22; John Dudash, 77; Christopher Miller 54; and Robert Fijol, 45; and Suhib Al Zenati, 27, of Jordan. Columbus resident Colton Smith, 35, was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
• The Southeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force charged Mark Hart, 33, of Marietta with engaging in prostitution and felony drug trafficking.
• The Southern Ohio Major Crimes Task Force:
— Arrested Jarrius Dixon, 26 of Ashland, Ky., after allegedly he responded to an ad from a “mother” offering sex with her and her 15-year-old daughter. During the arrest, Dixon was allegedly found to be in possession of 19.82 grams of suspected methamphetamine that was pre-packaged for sale, digital scales and more than $1,000. Dixon was charged with importuning, drug trafficking, drug possession and engaging in prostitution.
— Arrested Michael Waugh, 63, of Waverly, and Keith Anderson, 40, of McDermott, on charges of importuning. Anderson was also charged with improper handling of a firearm.
• The Toledo Police Department charged Dontae Evens, 29, of Toledo with engaging in prostitution. The man, who possessed narcotics, also faces felony charges of trafficking in cocaine and fentanyl.
“Johns” charged with engaging in prostitution or solicitation
• Alexander Alaniz, 29, Houston, Texas
• Galvin McCall, 26, Lewis Center
• Hamza Ali, 34, Columbus
• Anthony McClendon Jr., 27, Columbus
• Charles Arnold, 55, Dayton
• Jeremy Melloul, 42, Columbus
• Ali Asghar Azeem, 30, Cleveland
• Cody Minard, 34, Acadia
• Jiarie Beard, 25, Cincinnati
• David Miscimarra, 62, Boardman
• William Bodish, 61, Rootstown
• Eddie Monroe, 52, Groveport
• Ken Bratton, 63
• Roger Moore, 64, Columbus
• Brett Burner, 34, Wellston
• Leslie D. Morgan, 62, Caldonia
• Ray Burrage, 73, Warrensville Heights
• Deandre Moss, 36, Akron
• Donald Butts, 67, Columbus
• Awies Munye, 42, Columbus
• Jacob Caple, 33, Sheridan, Ark.
• Timothy Myers, 66, Fremont
• Josh Carter, 59, Columbus
• Michael Okeafor, 27, Brecksville
• Luis Castillo, 27, Venezuela
• Keatan Panshal, 75, Columbus
• Manuel Cendejas, 46, Mexico
• Vipol Kumar Patel, 30, Bellevue
• Brian Conley, 47, Radnor
• Bhavesh Patel, 45, India
• Forrest Couch Sr., 49, Warren
• Mohammed Patel, 56, Beavercreek
• Keith Daniels, 36, Columbus
• Scott Pelton, 27, Cortland
• Ralph N. Danison Jr., 40, Nova
• Jose Pineda, 48, Columbus
• Rosario Define III, 68, Groveport
• Nicholas Poore, 31, Youngstown
• Ramayne Devers, 49, Buffalo, N.Y.
• Domonique Powell, 42, Canton
• Michael Donavon, 45, Oswego, N.J.
• Curtis Ragland, 42, Columbus
• Dontae Evens, 29, Toledo
• Eric Randolph, 42, Willoughby
• Craig Forest, 61, Youngstown
• Williard Riffe, 71, South Shore, Ky.
• Jeff Garrison, 61, Walker, W.Va.
• Jose Rilos, 41, Orient
• Korwin Gathers, 33, Cleveland
• Andre Runion, 59, Gahanna
• Mark Gloria, 67, Toledo
• Michael Shaw, 30, Columbus
• Aries Golez, 43, Marietta
• Jamil Shilah, 47, Chicago, Ill.
• Scott Gorby, 31, New Middletown
• Fayron Si-Chub, 21, Guatemala
• Graham Lockett, 61, Dayton
• Ali Sidibe, 45, Solon
• Eddy Greathouse, 61, Blacklick
• Richard Simmons, 48, Cleveland
• Dwayne Griffin, 36, Louisville
• Aaron Slade, 50, Columbus
• Scott Grills, 34, Wellington
• James Smith, 49, Akron
• Rafed Haouas, 30, Canton
• Tobby Lee Smith, 49, Galion
• Mark Hart, 33, Marietta
• Shawn Smith, 53, Akron
• Larry Hayslip, 52, West Portsmouth
• Evan Smith, 36, New Albany, Ind.
• Ahmed Hirad, 19, Columbus
• George Stanford, 56, Columbus
• Daniel Johnson, 41, Morgantown, W.Va.
• William Stanforth II, 55, Athens
• Dominique Jordan, 38, Columbus
• Jeffrey Startzman, 68, Dayton
• Rubesuza Jova, 24, Tanzania
• William R. Steals, 60, Amherst
• Eric Knoch, 57, Newton Falls
• Michael Stevelman, 31, Frenchtown, N.J.
• Omar Kssioui, 55, Morocco
• Seth Stephens, 35, Willard
• Rasesh Kunduru, 23, Galena
• Charles Straley, 38, Columbus
• Christopher Ladd Sr., 61, Columbus
• Kevin Swartz, 65, Port Clinton
• Scott Lape, 44, Columbus
• Phillip Talmade, 62, Avon
• James Leeroy, 58, Mansfield
• Ebba Terefe, 33, Pickerington
• Robert Lennex Jr., 32
• Donald Thomas, 60, Washington, W.Va.
• Andrew J. Lennox, 44, North Olmstead
• Chad R. Thompson, 41, Bellevue
• Ish Lindsay, 26, Columbus
• Paul Tyson, 45, New Philadelphia
• Thomas Lindsey, 58, Dayton
• Aleksadr, 43, Ukraine
• Cory Locke, Bedford Heights
• Alex Urbina, 35, Columbus
• Ricardo Lopez-Markusic, 29, Columbus
• John Vanetti, 67, West Alexandria
• Derek Magee, 32, Grove City, Pa.
• Said Vazquez-Castillo, Columbus
• George Marmo, 56, Parma
• Joseph Wise, 57, Richfield
• Edward Mason, 71, Columbus
• Richard Yard, 55, Columbus
• Raymond Masters, 55, Chester, W.Va.
• Christopher Younce, 40, Castalia
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office offers a special thanks to the 100-plus law enforcement agencies and non-government organizations that joined AG Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission in carrying out Operation END-OHHT.
The lead agency for each OOCIC task force is listed first:
Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, BCI, FBI, Marysville Police Department, Ohio State University Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office
H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force:
Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Lorain County Sheriff’s Office
Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:
Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, BCI, Ohio Investigative Unit, Youngstown Police, East Palestine Police Department, Austintown Township Police Department, Salem Police Department, Warren Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Compass Rape Crisis and Counseling Center, Beaver Township Police Department
Montgomery County Human Trafficking Task Force:
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Butler Township Police Department, Miami Township Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Oakwood Police Department
Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, East Cleveland Police Department, MetroHealth Police Department, Cleveland Police Department, Warrensville Heights Police Department, North Olmsted Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Ohio Investigative Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Harriett Tubman Movement, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Wiloughby Police Department, Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, Newburgh Heights Police Department, Ashtabula Police Department, Canopy Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Conneaut Police Department, Solon Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Investigations, Homesafe Inc., Ohio Medical Board
Southeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Marietta Police Department, Belpre Police Department, Ohio Investigative Unit, Athens Police Department, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Noble County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Athens County Sheriff’s Office, Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, Noble County Prosecutor’s Office, Rescue and Restore Coalition
Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force:
Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, Portsmouth Police Department, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Pike County Prosecutor’s Office, New Boston Police Department, Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office
Summit Regional Human Trafficking Task Force:
Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Medina County Prosecutor’s Office, Akron Police Department, Hope and Healing, Cleveland Clinic, Springfield Township. Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, North Canton Police Department, Canton Police Department, Richfield Township Police Department, Twinsburg Police Department.
Also participating in the operation were the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police PACT, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio ICAC, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, New Albany Police Department, Hillard Police Department, Grove City Police Department, Dublin Police Department, Toledo Police Department and Ravenna Police Department.
All individuals charged should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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