122 Arrested in ‘Operation Spring Cleaning’ Crackdown on Human Trafficking Across Ohio
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — A statewide human trafficking operation conducted this month by dozens of agencies resulted in the arrests of 122 people seeking to buy sex – including from minors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
“This operation brings us to 1,065 arrests since our statewide stings began in 2019,” Yost said. “It shows the problem isn’t going away, but perpetrators are getting increasingly skittish as our message reverberates – Don’t buy sex in Ohio.”
Led by Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), Operation Spring Cleaning took place May 13-20 in 15 counties, including urban centers, suburban communities and rural areas throughout the state.
A recap of the operation
38 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.
84 “johns” seeking to buy sex were arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution or solicitation.
42 human trafficking survivors were referred by law enforcement to healthcare and social-services organizations.
15 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.
Highlights of the sting
Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Executed search warrants at four massage parlors where human trafficking is suspected: Rejuvenation Spa, 5841 Karric Square Dr., in Dublin; Red Bean Spa, 1066 Norton Rd., in Columbus; 7 Days Spa, 4889 Sinclair Rd., in Columbus; and K Massage Spa, 240 N. Liberty St., in Powell. Yixiang He, 51, of Columbus, was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution and money laundering. The investigations are ongoing.
H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force:
Executed a search warrant at King Me Spa, 35111 Royalton Rd., in Grafton.
Arrested and charged Mesha Michael Savi, 33, of Carlisle Township, with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.
Seized $18,622 in cash.
Referred three survivors to social services.
Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:
Arrested Timothy Tolson, 35, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, on charges of compelling prostitution, importuning, possessing criminal tools, possession of cocaine and corrupting a minor with drugs.
Charged five men with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor: Christopher Crawford, 37, of Pennsylvania; Eric Galiano, 55, of West Virginia; Larry Hitchings, 58, of Norton, Ohio; Raul Martinez, 26, of North Carolina; and Timothy Powell, 56, of Canton, Ohio.
Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Executed a search warrant at Oriental Spa, 37812 Vine St., in Willoughby, seizing $20,000 in cash as part of an ongoing investigation.
Arrested and charged Jason Petrov, 57, of Brooklyn, Ohio, and Patrick Moner, 63, of Cleveland, with engaging in prostitution. Petrov is an active Cleveland firefighter, and Moner is a retired Cleveland firefighter.
Arrested Dustin Crowder, 41, of Georgia, and Jeffrey Murphy, 53, of Lyndhurst, Ohio, on charges of compelling prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Both men allegedly believed they were meeting minors for sex.
Arrested Michael Pavlov, 29, of Newton Falls, Ohio, on charges of rape and endangering children in a case involving a 6-year-old.
Arrested Jeffery Villanueva, 56, of Niles, Ohio, and Jeff Anders, 55, of Boardman, Ohio, on charges of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning and possessing criminal tools.
Sought and secured the indictment of Misti McKinney, 38, of Youngstown, on charges of trafficking in persons, promoting prostitution, robbery, retaliation, possessing criminal tools, assault and soliciting.
Summit Regional Human Trafficking Task Force:
Executed a search warrant at La Lune Spa, 102 Western Ave., in Akron.
Charged three Ohio men with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor: Izaeik Groos, 24, of Akron; Jordan Novak, 38, of Euclid; and Tyrell Taylor, 38, of Akron.
Toledo Police Department VICE Unit:
Executed a search warrant at YG Therapy, 3443 Secor Rd., in Toledo, charging two people with promoting prostitution.
“Johns” charged
Inside the operation
The following people were charged with engaging in prostitution or solicitation:
Statewide trafficking operations expanded under Yost
Under Yost’s leadership, multi-agency operations targeting human trafficking have expanded in both size and impact. What started in 2019 as small-scale stings transformed in the ensuing years into statewide blitzes leveraging the resources of more than 100 law enforcement agencies.
In total, the operations yielded 1,065 arrests, including those announced today.
Operation Home Run and Operation Triple Play (July 2019): 49 arrests
Operation Fourth and Goal (September 2019): 104 arrests, including 53 felony charges; 43 human trafficking survivors referred to social services
Operation Autumn Hope (October 2020): 157 arrests; 45 missing children recovered; and 109 survivors referred to social services
Operation Ohio Knows (October 2021): 161 arrests; 51 survivors referred to social services
Operation Time’s Up (August 2022): 56 arrests
Operation Buyer’s Remorse (October 2023): 149 arrests; 104 survivors referred to social services; 11 search warrants executed at massage parlors
Operation END-OHHT (October 2024): 132 arrests, including 22 on felony charges; 73 survivors referred to social services; and nine human trafficking related search warrants executed
Operation Next Door (September 2025): 135 arrests, including 32 on felony charges; 67 survivors referred to social services; nine search warrants executed at massage parlors
Operation participants
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office extends a special thanks to the dozens of law enforcement agencies and non-government organizations that joined OOCIC in carrying out Operation Spring Cleaning. The lead agency for each OOCIC task force is listed first:
Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Columbus Division of Police, BCI, Dublin Police Department, FBI, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Grove City Police Department, Hilliard Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Marysville Police Department, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare
H.E.A.L. Human Trafficking Task Force:
Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, Adult Parole Authority, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Lorain Police Department, Perkins Township Police Department, Sandusky Police Department.
Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:
Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Adult Parole Authority, Austintown Police Department, BCI, Beaver Township Police Department, Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, East Palestine Police Department, HSI, Ohio Investigative Unit, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, Townhall II, University Hospital Ravenna, Youngstown Police Department
Miami Valley Human Trafficking Task Force:
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Adult Parole Authority, Butler Township Police Department, Dayton Police Department, HSI, Oakwood Police Department
Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ashtabula Police Department, Canopy Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Conneaut Police Department, Cuyahoga County Division of Children & Family Services, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Probation, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, East Cleveland Police Department, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Harriett Tubman Movement, Homesafe Inc., HSI, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, MetroHealth Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department, North Olmsted Police Department, Ohio Investigative Unit, Ohio Medical Board, Orange Village Police Department, Solon Police Department, Strongsville Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Housing & Urban Development – Office of Investigations, Warrensville Heights Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Willoughby Police Department
Southeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force:
Noble County Sheriff’s Office, Athens County Sheriff’s Office, Athens Police Department, Marietta Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Noble County Prosecutor’s Office, Rescue and Restore Coalition, Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force:
Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, New Boston Police Department, Pike County Prosecutor’s Office, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Portsmouth Police Department, Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office
Stark County Human Trafficking Task Force:
Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Township Police Department, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office
Summit Regional Human Trafficking Task Force:
Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Akron Police Department, FBI, Hope and Healing, HSI, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Richfield Township Police Department, Springfield Township Police Department, Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, Twinsburg Police Department
Also participating in the operation were the Columbus Division of Police P.A.C.T. Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, HSI, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Portage County Sheriff’s Office (PACE Unit), Toledo Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service.
How to report suspected human trafficking
Call (844) END-OHHT
Text “ENDOHHT” to 847411
Download the END OHHT app on Apple or Android devices
Submit information online at ohioattorneygeneral.gov/ENDOHHT
