Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force Charging 49 People

CLEVELAND — Two human trafficking stings resulted in charges against 49 people during the All-Star Game festivities in Cleveland.

“Buyers soliciting for prostitution are sex predators who fund the human trafficking behind the scenes, where pimps profit from exploiting the vulnerabilities of their victims,” said Mark Rapp, Director of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. “Men who buy sex may think they are a party to a victimless crime. They couldn't be more wrong, the women advertised for paid sexual services are often trafficked through commercial sex.”

Operation Homerun, a prostitution-based initiative, is filing charges against 21 people for soliciting prostitution. The operation was conducted by the Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

“The difference between these guys and Jeffrey Epstein is only a matter of degree,” Yost said.

Authorities also conducted Operation Triple Play, an initiative focused on catching people engaging in sexual activity online with minors (or people they believe to be minors). That operation was led by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

Operation Triple Play is filing charges against 28 people. Those charges could include attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning, possession of criminal tools and attempting corruption with drugs.

“Online predators are a hidden threat to children throughout this community. The success of this operation should serve as a stern reminder to perpetrators – if you attempt to exploit children online, we will catch you,” Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said. “This operation would not have been possible without the teamwork of the numerous law enforcement agencies involved.”

The persons being charged through Operation Triple Play include:

• Jacob Hale, 20, Cleveland
• Kyle Ferguson, 21, Medina
• Denis Ismailaj, 22, Lakewood
• Jacob Hoover, 22, Brunswick
• Tyler Reed, 23, Parma
• Luis Ponciano, 23, Lorain
• Sebastien Juin, 24, Cleveland
• Jonathan Staples, 24, Barberton
• Maurice Cannon, 26, Cleveland Heights
• Julio Torres, 26, Cleveland
• Jamal Williams, 26, Cleveland
• Justin Raab, 26, Painesville
• Michael Mills, 27, Westlake
• Douglas Rosenthal, 27, Cleveland
• Peter Nelson, 28, Cleveland
• Jason Chandler, 28, Akron
• Carlos Crespo, 29, Brunswick
• Anthony Gentry, 29, Youngstown
• Aaron Hawley, 30, Sheffield Village
• Scott Carrigan, 31, Chardon
• Phillip Pate, 31, Lakewood
• Derek Smon, 31, Lakewood
• Jason Conley, 32, Painesville
• Steven Prest, 36, Youngstown
• Eric Flores, 40, Cleveland
• Vincenzo Rampini, 43, Mentor
• Norman Thompson, 49, Chesterland
• James Schultz, 67, Parma

The persons being charged through Operation Homerun include:

• David Albert, 45, Westlake
• Geovani Morales, 45 Kenilworth, N.J.
• Dawit Bekel, 29, Richmond Heights
• Ron Mitchell, 52, Avon
• Leonard Majasi, 52, Weslake
• Roger Hoover, 57, Chillicothe
• Michael Barta, 23, Brecksville
• Ronald Olbrys, 51, Reminderville
• James Blue III, 28, Cleveland
• Brian Brown, 50, Cleveland
• Gregory Shaffer, 59, Maple Heights
• Timothy Laplante, 60, North Olmstead
• Ibrahim Salty, 32, Cleveland
• Daniel Abraham, 52, Walton Hills
• Simon Lewis, 44, Lyndhurst
• Cory Kyovsky, 29, Cleveland
• Michael Gallese, 26, Cleveland
• Krishna Adusumilli, 25, Outside the U.S.
• Anthony Petruziello, 41, Wickliffe
• Anthony Ciresi, 52, Seven Hills
• Larry Clark, 37, Beechwood

Police departments from across Northeast Ohio collaborated with state and county agencies on these stings.