SCDN Names First Suspect in Explosive Human Trafficking Case: Attorney Gene Meadows

For years, Scioto County Daily News publisher Mark Craycraft has demanded answers about human trafficking allegations tied to disgraced Portsmouth attorney and city councilman Mike Mearan. Now, in an explosive new development, SCDN is publicly naming the first of nine alleged co-conspirators contained in investigative records: longtime Portsmouth attorney and former council member Gene Meadows. Craycraft released a video this week calling out Meadows, who has practiced law in Southern Ohio for more than three decades. Records linked to the Mearan probe identify Meadows as participating in sexual encounters with women that investigators say were arranged and facilitated by Mearan. Shocking Allegations According to investigative files, witnesses reported that Meadows engaged in transactional sex with multiple women, sometimes paying cash and other times reducing or waiving legal fees. Victim A said she had several sexual encounters with Meadows beginning around 2005 after being introduced by Mearan. She told investigators she charged him $200 for sex, as well as legal services, while he was representing her during a 2013 jail stint. Victims identified as D, E, F, and G were also brought into encounters, some of which included “dancing” for Meadows before escalating to sexual activity. Victim B told a patrol officer that Meadows once offered her $20 for sex. Victim C, a minor at the time, was reportedly exploited by Meadows, prompting Victim A to cut off contact. Victim H was said to be the stepmother of Victim C. Altogether, the investigation generated 25 possible victims, 22 police interviews, 16 search warrants, and 33 subpoenas. Yet, despite the breadth of evidence, only Mearan himself was ever indicted. Craycraft’s Crusade “When I contacted Chief Brewer about the report,” Craycraft explained, “her response to me was that the report had been submitted to the Ohio Attorney General and that two full-time Portsmouth Police detectives had been assigned. But those detectives concluded their work and have returned to their regular duties within the department.” Craycraft criticized the lack of charges, pointing out that statutes of limitations may now protect perpetrators from prosecution. He urged lawmakers to revisit those rules in cases involving powerful figures exploiting vulnerable women. “This is a serious abuse of power,” Craycraft said. “Those in power who use that power to damage people don’t just injure individuals—they harm entire generations. If Scioto County is known for political and legal corruption while ignoring the plight of the homeless and addicted, how can we ever build a future? We can do better. I intend to do my part.” The Bigger Picture The Mearan case shocked Southern Ohio when the attorney was finally indicted in 2020 after decades of rumors. He was charged with human trafficking and compelling prostitution, accused of preying on women struggling with addiction. Mearan died in 2021 before facing trial, but state officials maintain that investigations into trafficking in the region are ongoing. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost confirmed that the investigation remains open despite the challenges of statutes of limitation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Ohio BCI Tip Line. What Comes Next Meadows is the first of nine alleged co-conspirators that Craycraft says he plans to publicly name. For him, the crusade is both personal and civic: an attempt to hold the powerful accountable, bring justice to victims, and ensure Scioto County sheds its reputation as a trafficking hub ignored by its leaders. If you have not seen the video, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/-tqFETMTexM?siT3AOmkQvFRMr8rmM

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