A massive statewide human trafficking crackdown led to 122 arrests across Ohio this month, including several cases tied to northeast Ohio communities, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
“Operation Spring Cleaning” was carried out May 13 – May 20 and involved more than 100 law enforcement agencies statewide. Authorities say the effort targeted people trying to buy sex, suspected traffickers, and individuals accused of attempting to meet minors for sex.
Officials say 84 so-called “johns” were arrested on prostitution or solicitation-related charges, while another 38 people faced felony charges ranging from trafficking in persons and promoting prostitution to drug crimes and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The operation also led to 42 human trafficking survivors being connected with healthcare and support services.
Yost said the operation shows both the scale of the problem and how aggressive enforcement efforts have become.
“This operation brings us to 1,065 arrests since our statewide stings began in 2019,” Yost said in a statement. “It shows the problem isn’t going away.”
Northeast Ohio played a major role in the crackdown. In Akron, members of the Summit Regional Human Trafficking Task Force executed a search warrant at La Lune Spa on Western Avenue. Authorities also charged two Akron men: 24-year-old Izaeik Groos and 38-year-old Tyrell Taylor, along with a Euclid man with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
In Willoughby, investigators executed a search warrant at Oriental Spa on Vine Street, seizing roughly $20,000 in cash as part of an ongoing investigation.
The Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force also arrested multiple men accused of attempting to meet minors for sex, including suspects from Brooklyn, Lyndhurst, Boardman and elsewhere.
One case involved a Cleveland firefighter and a retired Cleveland firefighter charged with engaging in prostitution.
Another Northeast Ohio case resulted in the arrest of a Newton Falls man accused of rape and child endangerment involving a 6-year-old child.
Investigators also carried out searches at massage parlors in Akron, Willoughby and several other Ohio cities including Columbus, Dublin, Powell, Grafton and Toledo.
Authorities say more than $120,000 in cash was seized statewide during the operation.
The operation involved task forces from Summit County, Cuyahoga County, Stark County, Mahoning Valley and numerous federal agencies including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
Officials say the investigations are ongoing and additional charges are possible.
