Prostitution sting leads to 135 arrests
Three locals among suspects charged with solicitation
COLUMBUS — Look around. Human trafficking is everywhere, according to Ohio Attorney General David Yost.
“Operation Next Door was named to highlight the proximity and prevalence of human trafficking,” Yost said. “Too often, we are lulled into the false narrative that these crimes happen only in the shadows. This is simply not true – human trafficking occurs in plain sight and, unfortunately, may even be fueled by your co-workers or neighbors.”
Sandusky, Huron, and Ottawa County residents were among those impacted —directly and indirectly — by a massive statewide law enforcement effort targeting human trafficking last week.
Yost announced that 135 arrests were made across the state, including people attempting to buy sex, some with minors, as part of “Operation Next Door.” The operation involved more than 100 law enforcement agencies, working from urban centers to rural towns.
“Too often, we are lulled into the false narrative that these crimes happen only in the shadows,” AG Yost said in a news release from his office. “Human trafficking occurs in plain sight and may even be fueled by your co-workers or neighbors.”
Perkins police made one of those arrests.
Local highlights
Erie and Huron counties: The H.E.A.L. Task Force, which includes the Erie County and Huron County Sheriff’s offices and the Sandusky and Perkins police.
Brian Hicks, 52, of Sandusky and Steven Jensen, 64, Port Clinton both were arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution as part of the operation, according to the news release from Yost.
Across the state, 67 human trafficking survivors were identified and connected to healthcare and social services.
What happened
The operation targeted massage parlors, street-level solicitation, and online trafficking networks.
Arrests included charges for promoting or compelling prostitution, solicitation, pandering sexually oriented material involving minors, and drug trafficking.
Nine search warrants were executed at businesses suspected of trafficking, with tens of thousands of dollars seized.
Why it matters
Even in Erie County and surrounding communities, residents are reminded that human trafficking is not confined to big cities. Local law enforcement is actively monitoring for signs of exploitation, and community members are encouraged to report suspicious activity.
Stay informed
Local law enforcement encourages anyone aware of trafficking or solicitation to contact their local sheriff’s office or the Ohio Human Trafficking Hotline.
Community organizations, social services, and faith-based groups in Erie County remain ready to support survivors of trafficking.
“Operations like this send a clear message: Those who exploit others will be held accountable,” Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant told the AG’s office.
Who was arrested?
In the news release from Yost, the following individuals were listed as suspects charged with engaging in prostitution or solicitation
• Jose Abadsantos, 46, Miamisburg
• John Lauback, 70, Perrysburg
• Mohamed Abdulluhi, 21, Columbus
• Chandelle Ledwell, 32, Columbus
• Savonne Allen, 29, Columbus
• Kasen Lewis, 24, Warren
• Benyam Ambaye, 42, Vandalia
• Stephen Lind, 53, Boardman
• Scott Ayriss, 60, Elyria
• Eric Lucero, 43, Elyria
• Thomas Bihn, 69, Oregon
• Gerald Lyles, 33, Columbus
• Michael Bognar, 43, Parma
• John Marcinko, 82, Columbus
• Jimmy Britt, 52, Canton
• Martin Marincic, 69, Streetsboro
• Kenton Burroughs, 32, Liberty Township
• Robert Mayberry, 48, Massillon
• Marcus Butler, 39, Columbus
• Alec McConnell, 40, Brookpark
• Noe Resendiz Caballero, 33, Stow
• Dashawn McKinney, 31, Akron
• Michael Chaffee, 69, Wadsworth
• Kelly Meinhart, 42, Columbus
• John Chatham, 49, LaGrange
• Jonathan Molek, 40, Akron
• Navarro Lumar Coleman, 19, Columbus
• Deprise Moore, 45, Akron
• Stacy Lamar Collins Jr., 24, Columbus
• Daniel Nagle, 47, Campbell
• Ibrahim Conteh, 31, Columbus
• John Nelson, 39, Apopka, Florida
• Theodore Cook, 56, Unknown
• Joseph Novacich, 53, Youngstown
• Eric Cooper, 50, New Franklin
• Terrance Oladeji, 34, Orrville
• Keith Critchlow, 54, New Castle
• Juvenile male, 17, Unknown
• Ryan Dale, 44, Akron
• Musin Ozbay, 67, Temperance
• Seth Darby, 44, Madison
• Dan Popa, 53, Lakewood
• Joseph Defilippis, 45, Weirton, West Virginia
• Steven Potere, 67, North Canton
• Jose Raymundo Clemens Dimas, 32, Durham, North Carolina
• Larry Ragland, 64, Columbus
• Dean Dimon, 76, Avon Lake
• Tim Ramsell, 55, Ravenna
• Pete Ditzel, 55, Concord Township
• Ralph Reaser, 65, Ravenna
• Alex Dowdell, 47, Akron
• Chevaliee Robinson, 47, Akron
• Donald Downs, 28, Youngstown
• Nathan Robinson, 34, Akron
• Scott Edgerton, 40, Elizabethtown, Kentucky
• Jonathan Saul Rojas, 24, Akron
• Gerald Edwards, 42, Columbus
• Ted Rosengarten, 52, Columbus Grove
• Alonza Ezell, 35, Warren
• Kelly Russell, 50, Youngstown
• Bryan Flaczynski, 38, Wakeman
• Brandon Russell, 40, Cutler
• Michael Ford, 53, Cleveland Heights
• Awner Sanchez, 32, Columbus
• Brandon Ford, 36, Bellevue
• Robert Sankey, 62, Columbus
• Miko Foster, 22, Columbus
• Michael Sherman, 46, Akron
• Joshua Franklin, 40, Liberty Center
• Donival Simmons, 45, Canton
• Jeremy Friend, 40, Belpre
• Julian Smith, 56, Perrysburg
• Edward Gallagher, 70, Mentor
• Stephen Taylor, 21, Dayton
• Brandon Gatti, 39, Wilmot
• John Temple, 57, Polk
• Benny Gonzalez, 29, Lorain
• Kevin Toms, 60, Columbus
• Demetris Gravely, 54, West Virginia
• Juvenile male, 16, Unknown
• Juvenile male, 16, Columbus
• Peter Vang, 41, Kent
• Rey Guzman, 24, Columbus
• David Vargas, 45, Columbus
• Darryl Hampton, 36, Maple Heights
• James Vogel, 40, St. Marys
• Delmar Hardin, 43, Akron
• Nicholas Walz, 31, Cincinnati
• Robert Hay, 43, Riverside
• Dontay Welch, 39, Columbus
• Will Heltzel, 32, Kent
• Carl Wheeler, 46, Toledo
• Brian Hicks, 52, Sandusky
• Darious Wiggins, 31, Columbus
• Aaron Hiner, 47, Akron
• Michael Wolters, 31, Akron
• Kirven Jackson, 62, Dayton
• Jason Worley, 49, Ottawa
• Steven Jensen, 64, Port Clinton
• Jasson L. Zavala, 24, Dayton
• Peter Kalemon, 32, New Castle
• Artemio Zepedia-Arriaga, 30, Columbus
• Huzeifa Kiani, 30, Ravenna