Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the successful conclusion of a weeklong statewide human trafficking crackdown known as ‘Operation Buyer’s Remorse.’ The operation aimed to apprehend individuals attempting to purchase sex and to identify human trafficking survivors.
“Law enforcement across Ohio teamed up in a concerted effort to stem the demand that fuels human trafficking,” Yost stated. “The success of this operation is measured not only by the number of arrests but also by the resources offered to survivors of human trafficking and the intelligence gathered that will propel long-term investigations forward.”
Operation Buyer’s Remorse, led by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), unfolded from September 25 to September 30, encompassing regions throughout the state, including Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Youngstown, Marietta, and Portsmouth, Ohio.
The Portsmouth Police Department arrested two local men during this operation. The individuals arrested were identified as Danny Pruitt and Rickey Underwood.
This statewide operation concluded with a total of 160 arrests. It was composed of coordinated stings conducted by OOCIC’s eight human trafficking and major crimes task forces.
The crackdown represents a united front against human trafficking in Ohio, targeting the source of the problem by apprehending those seeking to purchase sex while simultaneously providing support for human trafficking survivors.
