Human trafficking has been a hot-bed topic recently in Ohio and elsewhere. Many times, those involved in the activity use their victims as sex workers, and often, those victims can find no way out of their unfortunate predicaments. This seems to be the case in Ohio, where eight people were arrested for seeking to purchase sex.
Details of the operation and arrests
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently announced an operation entitled Operation Fouled Out that is working with the AG office to investigate human sex trafficking in the state. The crackdown coincided with the NBA All-Star Game that took place in Cleveland, as officials worked to identify johns seeking to buy sex. The operation also seeks to identify human trafficking victims and provide them a way out.
A collaborative effort with the Cuyahoga Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the operation netted eight arrests of would-be johns. The men ranged in age from 25 to 51. The operation also identified 15 people who were selling sex, and they were offered assistance by various health care and social services organizations.
Right to defense
The report also states that one person was arrested on drug-related charges. Regardless of the charges they face, each of the suspects is presumed innocent until convicted of his crimes in a court of law. As such, each suspect will want to work with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Ohio to increase their chances of obtaining a successful outcome.