Cleveland, OH
Northeast Ohio task force arrests 13 in sex-buying sting tied to trafficking crackdown
LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office shared Saturday morning that task force partners engaged in the statewide 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 (HEAL) 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.
Stark County Human Trafficking Task Force arrests 9 in local sting
During the operation, investigators arrested 13 individuals who were allegedly seeking to engage in commercial sexual activity with adults and minors.
The men arrested (starting from the top left to right) are:
- Forest Gullet, of Grafton: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Joshua Deblasis, of Parma: Trafficking of persons – commercial sex acts
- Luke Ilersich, of Cleveland: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Brent Mitchell, of Elyria: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Jeffery Buckhannon, of Elyria: Engaging in prostitution
- Bo Dunigan, of Parma: Engaging in prostitution
- Shamar Malik Lucky, of Elyria: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Terry Paugh, of North Olmsted: Procuring, soliciting prostitution
- Veli Lavikka, of Rocky River: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Matthew Hoke, of Tiffin: Engaging in prostitution
- Ronald Morgan, of Cleveland: Engaging in prostitution
- Vincent Digennaro, of Elyria: Engaging in prostitution
- Labar E Kittleberger, of Avon: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
All 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.
The investigations remains ongoing, the sheriff’s office said.
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 (440) 284-0615, Inspector Coll at (440) 329-3861, or Agent Aviles at (440) 329-3850.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Officials on Monday released the name of the woman found dead in the backyard of a home in the West Boulevard neighborhood.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Amber Graham, 37.
Officers responded to the 3400 block of Bosworth Road around 9 a.m. Friday for a welfare check.
When officers arrived at the home, they found the Graham deceased.
A child connected to the woman has been located and confirmed safe, said Cleveland police.
Police added the circumstances regarding the death remain under investigation.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
RITTMAN, Ohio — Four people are dead, including a Rittman police officer, following a violent night in Wayne County.
Speaking to reporters in the early morning hours, Sheriff Tom Ballinger said that the dispatch center received 911 calls around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday “for some type of disturbance and shots fired.” Responding officers immediately started taking fire, according to the sheriff.
What Ballinger told reporters:
Rittman officer killed
One police officer was killed, and two others were injured. A K9 from the sheriff’s department was also injured. Ballinger said the suspect and two victims are dead.
The department has identified the fallen officer as Sgt. Scott Ries.
“Sgt. Ries served the Rittman Police Department with honor and courage. Throughout his service, Sgt. Ries demonstrated an enduring commitment to protecting others and upholding the values of our department. Our hearts are broken with this unimaginable loss. The incident remains under active investigation with BCI. We are grateful for the outpouring (of) support from our community and law enforcement partners,” Rittman Police said in a news release Monday morning.
Wayne County Coroner Dr. Amy Jolliff told News 5’s Bob Jones the suspect was a 38-year-old man, and the victims were a woman and her teen daughter who were killed before the officer was killed, and the suspect killed himself.
The officer died at the hospital in Akron.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded.
News 5 Cleveland
A News 5 crew was on scene around Cheyenne Drive as they saw drones and a helicopter in the air. They also watched as law enforcement ran through front lawns and backyards, and asked residents how many people were in their house. Their focus appeared to be on a two-story home.
Vehicles from the sheriff’s department and Rittman, Wooster and Smithville police departments, some of which had bullet holes, were towed from the scene.
Watch Nadeen Abusada’s report:
Vehicles with bullet holes where officer was shot
Last night, the Wooster Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol asked people to avoid the area near Rittman High School.
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UPDATE: The game is now expected to start at 3:30p.m. ET.
Sunday’s Chicago White Sox-Cleveland Guardians game at Progressive Field has entered an inclement-weather delay.
The AL Central matchup was scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Cleveland, but weather moved into the area before the game could settle into its normal rhythm. Rain and thunderstorm risk had been in the forecast throughout the day, with conditions creating another delay in a series already shaped by weather.
This is the second weather interruption of the weekend between the White Sox and Guardians. Friday’s game was delayed for 1 hour, 55 minutes after Miguel Vargas hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning. Cleveland later came back to win 4-3 in 10 innings, using the delay to reset a game Chicago had briefly seized.
The Guardians entered the weekend fighting to protect position near the top of the AL Central, while the White Sox have been trying to steady themselves after a rough stretch and a taxed bullpen.
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