135 arrested in 'Operation Next Door' crackdown on human trafficking across Ohio

Ohio Attorney General's Office

A statewide human trafficking operation conducted last week by more than 100 law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of 135 people seeking to buy sex – including from minors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced this week.

“Operation Next Door was named to highlight the proximity and prevalence of human trafficking,” Yost said. “Too often, we are lulled into the false narrative that these crimes happen only in the shadows. This is simply not true – human trafficking occurs in plain sight and, unfortunately, may even be fueled by your co-workers or neighbors.”

Led by AG Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), Operation Next Door took place in urban centers, suburban communities and rural areas throughout Ohio.

The statewide crackdown was spearheaded by OOCIC’s human trafficking task forces, which were joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

32 people were arrested on felony charges including promoting prostitution, compelling prostitution, seeking sex with a minor, and drug possession and/or trafficking.

103 “johns” seeking to buy sex were arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution or solicitation.

67 human trafficking survivors were referred by law enforcement to health-care and social-services organizations.

Nine search warrants were executed by law enforcement. These included raids on massage parlors in Toledo, the Cleveland area, and the Akron area. More than $62,000 was seized along with evidence for long-term investigations.

Operation Highlights
The H.E.A.L. Task Force:

Arrested Dean Dimon, 76, of Avon, for soliciting prostitution. Dimon identified himself as a priest for the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cleveland and admitted to a prior offense for solicitation.

Arrested Benjamin Borlaug, 50, of Vermillion, and Antonial Marbuery, 30 of Cleveland, for compelling prostitution.

Arrested Benny Gonzalez, 29, of Lorain, for soliciting. Gonzalez was previously arrested for the same crime in 2022.

The Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:

Located and recovered a 14-year-old girl known to be at risk for trafficking. The task force opened an investigation to identify a possible trafficker.

Arrested Alexie Hernandez, 24, of Edgewood, Maryland, for compelling prostitution after he engaged in a date for sexual services with a 17-year-old female. Hernandez said he works for the U.S. military.

Arrested Andrew Craig, 40, of Chicago, for trafficking in persons. An investigation was opened.
Recovered a 17-year-old missing female from the Cleveland residence of a registered sex offender.

Executed search warrants as part of ongoing investigations at three massage parlors suspected of human trafficking activities: Green Massage Spa at 16210 Madison Ave., Lakewood; Dandelions Promise Foot Spa at 12736 Loraine Ave., Cleveland; U Mei Spa at 12410 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; and at an associated residence in Lakewood. More than $30,400 was seized from the businesses.

Arrested Lakeiara Brown, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, for promoting prostitution.

The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:

Recovered an adult victim with developmental disabilities who was transported to the sting location by a suspected trafficker. Evidence was seized, the victim was entrusted to the care of victim advocates, and an investigation was opened.

The Southeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:

Arrested Jon Roberts, 52, of Glouster, for pandering obscenities involving a minor. Agents executed a search warrant on Roberts’ residence.

Arrested a 27-year-old Marietta man for falsification and pandering obscenities involving a minor. The man works at a local pizza shop.

Charged Jeremy Friend, 40, of Belpre, with engaging in prostitution and trafficking in drugs.

The Southern Ohio Major Crimes Task Force:

Charged Brent McLain, 60, of Ironton, with importuning after McLain attempted to buy sex from a minor.

The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:

Arrested Michael Ford, 55, of Cleveland Heights, for engaging in prostitution. Ford identified himself as a schoolteacher.

Arrested Jackson Wortman, 28, of Ravenna, for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning, possession of criminal tools, disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, and attempting to corrupt another with drugs. Wortman identified himself as a Walmart employee.

Arrested Scotty Skiba, 38, of Salem, with receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The federal charge will be brought in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Arrested Jose Raymond Clemens Dimas of Durham, North Carolina, for engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools. Dimas is being held on an immigration detainer.

Arrested Robert Zimmerman, 42, of Canfield, for pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and possession of criminal tools.

The Summit County Human Trafficking Task Force:

Arrested Darryl Hampton, 36, of Maple Heights, for engaging in prostitution. He was also charged with child endangering after a subsequent investigation found that Hampton had left his 15-month-old child at home alone to go purchase sex.

Executed search warrants at two massage parlors suspected of human trafficking activities: Pearl Spa at 541 West Ave., Tallmadge, and Blue Sky Spa, 708 W. Wilbeth Road, Akron. Multiple people were detained and charged with soliciting as part of the ongoing investigations.

Arrested Brandon Gatti, 39, of Wilmot, for solicitation and possession of drugs. Gatti was found to have methamphetamine on him upon his arrest.

Arrested Noe Resendiz Cballero, 33, of Stow, for importuning, compelling prostitution, engaging in prostitution and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Miami Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:

Arrested Kirven Jackson, 62, of Dayton, for soliciting. Jackson identified himself as a substitute teacher in the Trotwood Madison School District.

Arrested Kevin McKee, 42, of Dayton, and a female for soliciting. The pair attempted to sell half a gram of fentanyl to an undercover officer.

James Vogel, 40, St. Marys, was arrested for soliciting and claimed to be a former Wapakoneta police officer.

Stephen Taylor, 21, of Dayton, was arrested for solicitation and attempting to sell fentanyl to an undercover officer.

Nicholas Walz, 31, of Cincinnati, was arrested for drug possession after he tried to buy sex while possessing psilocybin mushrooms.

The Toledo Police Department:

Executed search warrants on three massage parlors suspected of human trafficking activities. 

Four people were charged with promoting prostitution, including some charged with solicitation after a positive HIV test. The massage parlors are Sky Spa at 135 S. Byrne Road; Asian Healthy Massage,325 W. Alexis Road; and Asian Massage, 5333 Secor Road. Authorities also seized $32,000 from the businesses.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and ICAC Task Force:

Arrested Columbus residents Alan Martin, 35; Chrisopher Bonnette, 52; Neil Brown, 40; and Hunter Christy, 27, for allegedly seeking sex with minors. Each was charged with pandering sexually oriented material with a minor. Martin is a registered sex offender.

Charged David Stebbins, 77, of Columbus, with pandering sexually oriented material to a minor. Stebbins identified himself as a federal defense attorney.