LORAIN COUNTY — Thirteen people were arrested locally and four survivors of sex trafficking were rescued during a weeklong human trafficking operation involving the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and its H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force partners.
The local arrests were part of Operation Spring Cleaning, a statewide crackdown announced by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Statewide, authorities reported 122 arrests, including 38 people arrested on felony charges and 84 people accused of seeking to buy sex. Law enforcement also referred 42 human trafficking survivors to health care and social service organizations across Ohio.
Locally, the H.E.A.L. task force, which includes law enforcement partners from Huron, Erie, Ashland and Lorain counties, conducted operations aimed at illicit massage businesses and people accused of seeking commercial sex.
Search Warrant Served at Massage Business
During the week of May 11, investigators executed a search warrant at King Me Massage Parlor, 35111 Royalton Road in Eaton Township.
According to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the warrant was part of an ongoing multi-state investigation into alleged illegal activity at the business. Authorities said money was seized, several women were interviewed and victims were referred for services. The business was closed by the task force, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The sheriff’s office said women connected to the investigation were brought to the United States under the belief they would be part of a work-study program to obtain higher education degrees. Instead, authorities said they were forced into an illicit sex trade operation involving multiple massage parlors across the country.
The H.E.A.L. task force provided the victims with temporary housing and help to reunite with their families in their home countries, according to the sheriff’s office.
Thirteen Arrested in Local Sting
A separate operation was conducted Friday, May 15, at various locations around Lorain County. Investigators said that operation focused on the exploitation of human trafficking victims forced to engage in commercial sex acts.
The sheriff’s office said 13 people were arrested after allegedly seeking to engage in commercial sexual activity with adults and minors. All suspects were taken to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and charged.
Those listed by the sheriff’s office were:
- Forest Gullett, of Grafton: procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Joshua Deblasis, of Parma Heights: trafficking in 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 or 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. Kittelberger, of Avon: procuring use of premises for prostitution
The charges ranged from engaging in prostitution to procuring use of premises for prostitution and trafficking in persons involving commercial sex acts, which is a first-degree
Authorities also seized two firearms from individuals encountered during the operation. The sheriff’s office said the firearms highlight the danger involved in these types of illicit transactions.
Lorain County Woman Rescued
Investigators also reported rescuing a 43-year-old woman originally from Lorain County who had been trafficked in a criminal sex-for-hire operation in Las Vegas.
According to the sheriff’s office, the woman was brought back to Lorain County not to return home, but to continue being forced into commercial sexual activity. She was recovered by investigators at a local hotel and is being provided humanitarian and legal services.
Sheriff Jack Hall praised investigators and participating agencies, saying that reuniting victims with their families and the lives they had before being trafficked was the most significant accomplishment of the investigations.
The H.E.A.L. operation was conducted with assistance from the Sheffield Village Police Department, Perkins Township Police Department, Amherst Police Department, Sheffield Lake Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force.
The investigations remain ongoing. Anyone with information about human trafficking or suspicious activity in Huron, Erie, Ashland or Lorain County is encouraged to contact the H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force at 440-284-0615, Inspector Coll at 440-329-3861 or Agent Aviles at 440-329-3850.
All charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
