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Current, former Cleveland firefighters among 122 people arrested in Attorney General’s latest statewide sex sting

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Current, former Cleveland firefighters among 122 people arrested in Attorney General’s latest statewide sex sting


(WJW) — A statewide sex sting coordinated by Attorney General Dave Yost’s office led to the arrests of one current and one former Cleveland firefighter on prostitution charges.

Dozens of law enforcement agencies across Ohio between May 13 and May 20 collaborated on Operation Spring Cleaning, which led to 122 human trafficking arrests in 15 counties, according to a news release from the AG’s office.

Of those, 38 people were arrested on felony charges for allegedly trying to meet with undercover officers posing as minors for sex. Another 84 “johns” were caught dealing with prostitutes, authorities allege.

The investigation also identified 42 human trafficking survivors, who were referred to health care and social services organizations.

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Search warrants executed at 15 Ohio massage parlors suspected of offering illegal services — in Akron, Grafton, Willoughby and elsewhere — yielded $120,000 in forfeitures and other evidence.

Cuyahoga, Lake, Mahoning and Trumbull counties

The Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force arrested seven people and executed a search warrant at a local spa.

  • The search warrant was at Oriental Spa, 37812 Vine St., Willoughby, where the task force seized $20,000 in cash as part of an ongoing investigation.
  • The task force arrested Jason Petrov, 57, of Brooklyn, and Patrick Moner, 63, of Cleveland, each on a count of engaging in prostitution. Petrov is an active Cleveland firefighter and Moner is a retired Cleveland firefighter, according to the AG’s office.
  • Dustin Crowder, 41, of Georgia, and Jeffrey Murphy, 53, of Lyndhurst, both believed they were meeting with juveniles for sex, according to the AG’s office. The task force arrested both on charges of compelling prostitution and possessing criminal tools.
  • The task force arrested Michael Pavlov, 29, of Newton Falls, on charges of rape and endangering children in a case involving a 6-year-old.
  • The task force arrested Jeffrey Villanueva, 56, of Niles, and Jeff Anders, 55, of Boardman, on charges of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning and possessing criminal tools.
  • The task force also secured the indictment of Misti McKinney, 38, of Youngstown, on charges of trafficking in persons, promoting prostitution, soliciting, robbery, retaliation and others. McKinney is accused of coercing victims as young as 17 into prostitution, as reported by FOX 8 sister station 27 First News.

Huron, Erie, Ashland and Lorain counties

The H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force made one arrest, executed one search warrant at a local spa and identified three human trafficking survivors who were referred to social services. They also seized $18,622 in cash.

  • The task force raided King Me Spa, 35111 Royalton Road, Grafton.
  • The task force arrested Mesha Michael Savi, 33, of Carlisle Township, on a charge of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

Medina and Summit counties

The Summit Regional Human Trafficking Task Force charged three people with sex charges relating to minors and raided a spa.

  • The task force executed a search warrant at La Lune Spa, 102 Western Ave., Akron.
  • The task force charged Izaeik Groos, 24, of Akron; Jordan Novak, 38, of Euclid; and Tyrell Taylor, 38, of Akron, each with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

84 ‘Johns’ charged

Of the 84 “Johns” caught during the operation allegedly trying to buy sex, nearly 50 were from Northeast Ohio. See the full list of arrests below:

(Ohio Attorney General’s Office)

Yost’s office has conducted eight large-scale human trafficking busts since 2019, which have resulted in more than 1,000 arrests, according to the AG’s office.



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Cleveland, OH

2 shot at Cleveland barbershop, suspect on the run

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2 shot at Cleveland barbershop, suspect on the run


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Two people were shot at a barbershop on the city’s East side Thursday afternoon.

Shooting at Cleveland barbershop(Julia Thyret | (Source: WOIO))

This happened around 1:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Superior Ave. in the city’s Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood.

The barber shop where the shooting happened is located in a building at Danford Court and East 31st Place.

Police say the individuals who were shot were a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old.

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Cleveland police and EMS have responded to the scene.

At this time, officers are searching for the suspect.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.



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Cleveland, OH

Off-duty Cleveland Police officer involved in deadly shooting in Glenville neighborhood

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Off-duty Cleveland Police officer involved in deadly shooting in Glenville neighborhood


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A 26-year-old man was shot on Cleveland’s East Side Wednesday night by an off-duty Cleveland Police Officer.

The incident happened just before 8 p.m. in the 1400 block of East BLVD.

Preliminary information indicates that an off-duty Cleveland Police officer was at this location when a verbal altercation ensued and shots were fired. A firearm believed to belong to the man was recovered at the scene.

Police said the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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The investigation is being handled by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.

The off-duty officer was not injured.

More information related to this shooting will be released when it is available.

Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.



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Cleveland, OH

Former Cleveland bank executive faces 45 sex crime charges dating back to 2004

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Former Cleveland bank executive faces 45 sex crime charges dating back to 2004


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -A former senior vice president at First National Bank in Cleveland is facing 45 counts of sex crimes dating back two decades, including charges involving a five-year-old child.

Joseph Fragapane, 63, of Strongsville, was indicted in December and again this month on charges prosecutors said span from 2004 through 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to the December charges and is out on bond.

Investigation began with cyber tip

The case began when a cyber tip came into the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The center sent the case to the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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“Our investigators began looking into that violation as well as what the conduct was and were able to determine that it was Joseph Fragapane committing these crimes,” said Megan Helton, an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, which runs Ohio ICAC.

Investigators said Fragapane uploaded nude images of children online, which linked back to his IP address.

Search warrant reveals additional victims

After serving a search warrant at his Strongsville home, investigators said they found more than just those images.

“As we continued to look through his devices, we were then able to determine that there were additional victims that were known to the defendant at different times in his life, and we were able to then talk with those individuals,” Helton said.

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According to the indictment, the first victim was five years old and known to Fragapane. Prosecutors said between 2004 and 2005, he kidnapped her, sexually assaulted her and produced child sexual abuse material involving her.

The second victim, also someone he knew, was an adult. Prosecutors said in 2019, Fragapane secretly recorded her without her knowledge or consent, according to the indictment.

“One of the victims is an adult and one of the victims was a child at the time. And so when we see someone who is committing a variety of acts against really anyone he encounters, there is a concern that he was committing any offense that he had an opportunity to commit,” Helton said.

Additional charges involve photoshopped images

Fragapane also faces additional sex crime charges spanning from 2021 through 2025. Prosecutors said investigators found child sexual abuse material on his devices involving other children and women he knew personally.

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“He would either obtain photos that he took himself, innocuous photos. So think holiday photos, think neighborhood photos, think cookout photos, where he would then take images of children’s heads and photoshop them onto nude bodies,” Helton said.

Here are the charges Fragapane faces, according to the indictment:

-Kidnapping- F1 (Count One)

-Gross Sexual Imposition- F3 (Counts 2 & 3)

-Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance- F2 (Counts 4-12)

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-Voyeurism- M1 (Counts 13-15)

-Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person- F2

(Counts 16-25)

-Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance- F2

(Counts 26-44)

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-Possessing Criminal Tools- F5 (Count 45)

19 Investigates reached out to Fragapane for comment. He has not responded.

A spokesperson for First National Bank said Fragapane no longer works at the bank. She said they “don’t comment on legal matters about current or former employees.”

Fragapane’s attorney told us he is retired and no longer employed. She said he plans to plead not guilty to the new charges.

Prosecutors warn of potential additional victims

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As the case heads to court, prosecutors warn there may be more victims still unaccounted for.

“Someone who is in the community is well-trusted, is known by a lot of individuals. There is a concern that person takes advantage of those circumstances, and that’s certainly what we see in this case, that he had a position of power, he had a position of being well-liked in the community, and he is essentially exploiting that,” Helton said.

Fragapane will be arraigned on the new charges next Thursday.

Investigators ask anyone who believes they or their child may have been a victim of sexual assault or exploitation in this case to call the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Cleveland.

You can call the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office at 216-443-7800.

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Need an investigation? Contact 19 Investigates with your request.

Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.



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