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.

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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.

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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.