Three Columbus men were indicted today by a Franklin County grand jury on twenty three felony charges as part of a human trafficking investigation, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and Columbus Division of Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced today.
Marcus Carmon, Anthony Dunn and Bradley Powell were indicted on trafficking in persons, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, promoting prostitution, compelling prostitution, felonious assault, and possession of drugs and weapons under disability.
The investigation was initiated by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The task force received a tip about an individual named Marcus Carmon operating a sex trafficking ring in Central Ohio.
As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that Carmon targeted vulnerable women who were fighting addiction and exploited them through prostitution for his financial gain. The indictment alleges that Carmon used threats, drugs and physical violence to gain control and manipulate his victims. Dunn and Powell were indicted as co-conspirators.
According to the Human Trafficking Task Force website:
The Governor’s Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force was formed to marshal the resources of the State of Ohio to coordinate efforts to identify victims, create a coordinated law enforcement system to investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes, and to provide the services and treatment necessary for victims to regain control of their lives.
Ten state agencies are members of the task force and have worked to identify service gaps and made recommendations for filling those gaps.
The Task Force consists of:
- Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- Ohio Department of Agriculture
- Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Ohio Department of Education
- Ohio Department of Medicaid
- Ohio Department of Youth Services
- Ohio Department of Public Safety
- Ohio Department of Health
- Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board
