“Too often our task forces arrest predators seeking to have sex with children – a sickening fact that should send a chill down the spine of every parent,” Yost said. “If you think human trafficking only involves sex between adults, you’re wrong.”
The one-day operation took place in the Solon area on October 16. Its goals were twofold: to apprehend men seeking to buy sex, and to identify potential victims of human trafficking.
Felony Charges for Seeking Minors
Two men face felony charges of compelling prostitution involving a minor after allegedly trying to buy sex from undercover agents posing as minors:
* Peter Moller, 66, of Brunswick
* Dwayne Murray, 34, of Kent
These men face charges in Cuyahoga County.
Additionally, Lafayette Robinson, 33, of Cleveland, was arrested and charged with the felony of promoting prostitution.
Additional Arrests for Engaging in Prostitution
Ten other men were arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution in Bedford Municipal Court:
* Timothy Asberry, 67, Willoughby
* Ajene Enaharo, 43, Solon
* Harmanjit Ghuman, 59, Macedonia
* Donald Ketring, 70, Madison
* Gul Mashwani, 28, Cleveland
* Richard Nichols, 61, Burton
* Andrew Novak, 49, Cleveland
* Brandon Rice, 48, Solon
* Timothy Szekely, 56, Stow
* Brandon Tschantz, 38, Reminderville
Victim Identification and Missing Children Recovered
Beyond the arrests, the task force successfully identified nine potential victims of human trafficking and recovered two children who had been previously reported missing. Two foreign nationals were also identified and referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Part of a Broader Effort
These arrests follow several other successful human trafficking operations across Ohio. Most recently, on September 29, “Operation Next Door” resulted in 135 arrests statewide. Since then, task forces have arrested eight men in Steubenville and a doctor in Youngstown who allegedly agreed to pay for sex with a minor.
“Our work will continue until everyone gets the message: Don’t buy sex in Ohio!” Yost concluded.
The Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and is led by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department. The task force is a multi-jurisdictional effort with numerous partners, including the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Division of Police, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Solon Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, and many others.