Man Charged With Sex Trafficking Out Of Pittsburgh-Area Motel

MONROEVILLE, PA — An Ohio man has been accused of keeping two women and a teenage girl at the Rodeway Inn on Mosside Boulevard or several months and forcing them to work as prostitutes.

Donte LaShawen Cole, 38, of Euclid, has been charged with eight counts of human trafficking, six counts of involuntary servitude, two counts each of operating a corrupt organization and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity and a count of criminal use of a communications facility, according to court documents.

Agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security were conducting surveillance of the motel back in May and became suspicious when they saw two men go in and out of the room, WPXI-TV reported.

When the agents knocked on the door, they spoke with the two women, aged 21 and 20, and the teen, 16. All said they worked as prostitutes for Cole and were expected to earn $600-$700 per day.

Clients were recruited via online advertisements featuring pictures of the trio.

Officers asked one of the women if she felt she was forced into the situation. She responded that she heard Cole say, "Y'all try to leave, there will be consequences."

It was not immediately clear why authorities waited until now to file the charges.