More than 100 people arrested in statewide human trafficking sting, including Cleveland firefighter

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More than 100 people arrested in statewide human trafficking sting, including Cleveland firefighter

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A total of 122 people accused of seeking to buy sex from minors, were arrested this month in a statewide human trafficking sting, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday.

During ’Operation Spring Cleaning,’ Yost said 38 of the people were arrested on felony charges, including promoting prostitution, compelling prostitution, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, trafficking in persons, and drug possession and/or trafficking.

One of the men arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution is Cleveland Firefighter Jason Petrov, 57, of Brooklyn.
Retired Cleveland Firefighter Patrick Moner, 63, of Cleveland, is also charged with engaging in prostitution.
Two Akron men and a Euclid man were charged with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. They were identified by Yost as Izaeik Groos, 24, of Akron, Tyrell Taylor, 38, of Akron, and Jordan Novak, 38, of Euclid.
Timothy Powell, 56, of Canton, and Larry Hitchings, 58, of Norton, were charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Jeffrey Murphy, 53, of Lyndhurst, is charged with compelling prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Yost said Murphy thought he was meeting a minor for sex.

Fifteen search warrants were executed in connection with suspected human trafficking at massage parlors in Akron, Columbus, Dublin, Grafton, Powell, Toledo and Willoughby. More than $120,000 was seized, along with evidence for long-term investigations.

In Grafton, officers raided King Me Spa, at 35111 Royalton Rd. Yost said they seized $18, 622 in cash, referred three survivors to social services, and charged Mesha Michael Savi, 33, of Carlisle Township, with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.
In Willoughby, officers raided Oriental Spa, at 37812 Vine St. Yost said they seized $20,000 in cash.

“These are serious crimes and these are our children and they are targeting them on social media,” said Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree.

Forty-two human trafficking survivors were referred by law enforcement to healthcare and social-services organizations.

“Don’t plead these cases down to nothing. They represent damage to human beings. This is not a victimless crime. The only way we are going to stop human trafficking is to cut off the oxygen, the cash that fuels it,” said Attorney General Dave Yost.

How to report suspected human trafficking: