Ohio Woman Admits Trafficking Child

An Ohio woman admitted to her part in a human trafficking ring. She took a minor to the home of a 77-year-old man where he sexually assaulted and photographed the child. Lori Jackson, of Warren, pleaded guilty in a Mahoning County court to one count of human trafficking. The judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said it was all part of a much larger human trafficking ring in the Youngstown, Ohio area. The ring was uncovered by Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene and Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains announced the guilty plea along with Yost. “We must stay vigilant in the fight against human trafficking – this woman delivered a minor to fulfill other’s desires for exploitation,” Yost said. “I congratulate the task force for diligently pursuing this case and unraveling the leads that ultimately led to prison time. The value of our partnership with Sheriff Greene and Prosecutor Gains is immense – this is a proven model of successfully combatting human trafficking.”

One Suspect Committed Suicide

Officials said that Jackson took a minor to the home of Charles Krusac. Krusac sexually assaulted the child and also took sexually explicit photographs. While investigating the crime, law enforcement uncovered a much larger human trafficking ring based in Youngstown. Krusac and four others were indicted. Not long after the indictment, Krusac committed suicide.

Here’s What Happened To The Other Defendants:

The court already sentenced three others in the Youngstown, Ohio human trafficking ring, including a mother and son.

Elaine Hellman, a former police dispatcher, and Ronald Hellman’s mother, pleaded guilty to obstructing official business. The court placed her on probation.

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Charles Dean Clark, 76 of Portsmouth,

Roger G. Covert Sr. 71 of Portsmouth

James Jaster pleaded guilty to two counts of compelling prostitution and one count of promoting prostitution. A judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

The court sentenced Ronald Hellman to 15 years in prison on multiple charges related to human trafficking. Prosecutors said he took kids to Krusac’s house to perform sex acts and create child porn in exchange for drugs.

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“The success of these types of investigations depends on the collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies working together to protect children and to stop human trafficking,” Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said. “I am proud to be the administrating agency partnering with Attorney General Yost in these endeavors, without his continued support, successful operations like this particular investigation would not be possible.”