Eight people looking to buy sex were arrested during a human trafficking crackdown in northeast Ohio that coincided with National Basketball Association All-Star Game festivities in Cleveland, a announced today Attorney General Yost.
“The mission of this operation was twofold: to arrest clients soliciting sex and to proactively meet with potential victims,” Yost said. “Our task reinforced both the consequences of purchasing sex and the avenues available for victims to find a way out.”
Operation Fouled Out, coordinated by AG Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Commission of Investigation, was a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies and social service organizations to address issues that fuel sex trafficking in Ohio. Led by the Cuyahoga Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the operation took place ahead of Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Law enforcement identified and interviewed 15 people selling sex. Potential victims of human trafficking have received assistance offered by health care and social service organizations, including the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and the Canopy Child Advocacy Center.
“We are proud to showcase our city to the nation and the world during this All-Star weekend, but we want to be clear that sexual violence and human trafficking have no place here.” , said Sondra Miller, president and CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis. Center. “We applaud agencies that work collaboratively to hold sex offenders accountable today and every day.”
The operation resulted in the arrest of:
- Brian Barlock, 45, Columbia Station
- Bryan Fathauer, 51, Beree
- Benny Gonzalez, 25, Lorraine
- George Keaton, 43, Broadview Heights
- David O’Boyle, 49, Brookpark
- Dana Parnell, 48, Mayfield Heights
- Brandon Ruyten, 49, Rootstown
- Michael James Smith, 48, Cuyahoga Falls
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