COLUMBUS – More than 100 people, most from central Ohio, but others from locations as far-flung as Canada and Louisiana are criminal charges as a result of a human trafficking sweep known as “Operation Fourth and Goal.”
The partnership of over 30 law enforcement agencies and social service organizations yielded 104 total arrests, including 53 in felony charges, and sent 43 survivors to a court-run diversion program, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Columbus Division of Police Interim Chief Thomas Quinlan and Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force Director Sgt. Mark Rapp announced Friday.
104 arrests were made this week in a human trafficking sting announced today by AG Yost and 30+ partnering law enforcement and social service agencies. A special thanks to @ColumbusPolice @Hilliard_Police @DublinPolice for their leadership.
Read more → https://t.co/mt5BEhK82G pic.twitter.com/8TdGU4ME3y
— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) September 13, 2019
Human trafficking survivors seeking help are encouraged to contact the Salvation Army’s 24-hour hotline at 888-373-7888 at any time to connect with services.
A portion of the initiative that focused on suspects seeking to engage in sexual activity with people they believed to be minor children resulted in the arrests of 24 on felony charges, including attempted rape, importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and disseminating matter harmful for juveniles.
In addition to the felony arrests, 37 more suspects were arrested on solicitation charges and 43 women were provided with social services and referred to CATCH Court. The Changing Actions to Change Habits court is a special docket through the Franklin County Municipal Court, which offers addicts and prostitutes a chance to avoid jail time by entering the rehabilitation and recovery program.
Although most of the suspects were from Ohio, including Columbus and surrounding towns and cities, individuals from Wyoming, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Canada were also among those taken into custody.