(CINCINATTI, Ohio) — For a third straight season, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron are teaming with the Cincinnati Reds to raise awareness of human trafficking in both states.
“Human trafficking knows no borders, and the criminals pushing this modern-day form of slavery don’t play by the rules,” Yost said. “With AG Cameron and the Reds, I’m proud to show Ohioans, Kentuckians and sports fans everywhere that we’re all on the same team in this battle to end human trafficking.”
Both attorneys general collaborated with the Reds to record a public service announcement (PSA) explaining some of the signs of sex and labor trafficking – and urging those who suspect a problem to report it.
The PSA began running Tuesday night on the scoreboard at Great American Ball Park, where it will remain as part of the pre-game rotation during homestands this season. Great American continues to provide a unique opportunity to engage both Ohio and Kentucky residents in the fight to eradicate human trafficking.
According to the Polaris Project, there were more than 16,500 trafficking victims and survivors nationwide in 2021, the latest year for which data is available.
Like AG Cameron in Kentucky, AG Yost has worked diligently in Ohio to combat human trafficking. Yost created the Human Trafficking Initiative (HTI) to build awareness of the problem and empower Ohioans to take action.
The regional human trafficking task forces of Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) have made 1,277 human trafficking-related arrests statewide since the commission began collecting annual data in 2019. As part of those efforts, OOCIC has also:
Fielded 2,440 tips.
Secured the indictment of 412 people on 2,113 counts.
Served 905 search warrants.
Made 510 rescues.
Referred 1,983 people to resources.
The Reds partnership is crucial to Yost’s efforts to partner with sports venues, which draw large crowds, to raise awareness of the scourge of human trafficking.
In March, both Nationwide Arena in Columbus and UD Arena at the University of Dayton partnered with Yost’s office on a poster campaign during the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament games. Last year, the Columbus Crew soccer team partnered with the attorney general on a PSA campaign at Lower.com field.
The Reds PSA lets baseball fans know that, contrary to popular belief, human trafficking can occur at any time and in any location. It also directs fans to report suspected human trafficking to local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888).
Berlin Township – The Sandusky Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a vehicle vs. pedestrian fatal crash that occurred Sunday May 21, 2023 at 9:34 PM on SR 61 near Driver Road in the Township of Berlin, Erie County.
Unit #1: Kayla Klenk, age 23, of Huron, Ohio, was operating a black 2021 Toyota Corolla, and was northbound on SR 61 south of Driver Rd. Ms. Klenk struck a pedestrian that was in the northbound lane of SR 61. Ms. Klenk did not sustain any injuries. Ms. Klenk was not wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash.
Pedestrian: William Hildenbrand, age 80, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, was walking across SR 61 and was struck by Unit #1. Mr. Hildenbrand sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash.
Alcohol and/or drugs are not considered a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation. Both lanes of SR 61 were closed for approximately 2 hours while the scene was investigated.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Berlin Township Fire and Rescue, North Central EMS, MetroHealth-Metro Life Flight and Wilson’s Towing.
The Department of Justice, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other federal law enforcement agencies announced today the completion of a three-month campaign that disrupted networks used by foreign fraudsters to obtain fraud proceeds. Multiple law enforcement actions addressed conduct by individuals sometimes referred to as “money mules,” who have been providing critical services to fraudsters by receiving money from fraud victims and forwarding the fraud proceeds to the perpetrators (many of whom are based overseas). Some individuals knew they were facilitating fraud. Others first interacted with fraudsters as victims and may have been unaware that their activity furthered criminal activity.
Over approximately the last three months, law enforcement took over 4,000 actions against individuals responsible for facilitating a range of fraud schemes. These schemes included those that targeted consumers, such as lottery fraud and romance scams, as well as those that targeted businesses or pandemic funds.
The thousands of actions taken by law enforcement—which ranged from criminal prosecutions, to civil actions, to warning letters—were designed to punish those who knowingly assisted fraudsters and to advise those who may have been unknowingly helping fraudsters that their conduct furthered crime. These actions are intended to deter overseas fraudsters from relying on U.S.-based individuals to facilitate schemes, and thereby reduce the harm caused by foreign fraud operations.
This year’s effort marked the fifth U.S. law enforcement campaign disrupting these money transmitting networks. Since the first campaign, during which approximately 400 actions were taken by law enforcement, agencies have collectively taken over 12,000 actions. Investigations have shown that disrupting money transmitting networks has impeded fraudsters’ abilities to receive funds, thereby reducing fraud victimization. These campaigns are part of a global effort to tackle money transmitting networks linked to illegal activity.
“Law enforcement is committed to reducing fraud using every tool at our disposal. Our efforts to disrupt networks used to transfer fraud proceeds, to educate the public about elder fraud, and to prosecute those involved in these schemes have stymied fraudsters,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “This initiative demonstrates what can be achieved through focused efforts and vigorous enforcement.”
“The money mule campaign was an effort to educate the public, disrupt criminal enterprises, and provide feedback to financial institutions who go to great lengths to implement anti-money laundering programs,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI values the partnership of DOJ Consumer Protection Branch, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other federal agencies who work together to disrupt criminal enterprises conducting fraud and money laundering schemes.”
“Anyone can be approached to be a money mule, but criminals often target students, those looking for work, and those on dating websites,” said Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Group. “When those individuals use the U.S. Mail to send or receive funds from fraudsters, Postal Inspectors are quick to step in and put a stop to money mule activities.”
This year’s effort was coordinated by the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which were joined by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Participating agencies collectively served over 4,000 letters warning individuals that their activities are facilitating fraud. These letters outlined the potential consequences for continuing to transmit illegally acquired funds. Participating agencies also filed twelve civil or administrative actions. Additionally, more than 25 individuals were criminally charged for knowingly receiving and forwarding victim funds or otherwise laundering fraud proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District Massachusetts charged a defendant for using his accounting and “virtual CFO” business as a front to launder the proceeds of internet fraud schemes. As part of the alleged conspiracy, the defendant created dozens of shell companies and used those shell companies to open business bank accounts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, through which the defendant laundered the criminal proceeds for his clients in exchange for fees. In total, since 2019, the defendant is alleged to have opened approximately 80 bank accounts (purportedly on behalf of 65 different companies), laundering approximately $35 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina charged an individual for facilitating an international, multi-million-dollar tech support fraud. The indictment alleged that the defendant agreed to obtain payment-processing services in his name to process victim payments and laundered the proceeds domestically and internationally to bank accounts located in India, receiving three percent of the revenue in return.
The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the District of Nebraska charged individuals who, despite warnings from law enforcement, continued facilitating fraud. In the Central District of California, an individual was charged for her role in receiving funds from fraud victims, including victims of business email compromises. According to the charges, the defendant opened 11 bank accounts at seven separate financial institutions in furtherance of the scheme. In the District of Nebraska, two individuals were charged for facilitating a lottery fraud scheme, including by receiving cashier’s checks in the mail.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
As in past years, participating agencies are working to raise awareness about how fraudsters recruit and use individuals to assist their fraud operations. Federal agencies conducted outreach to the public and industry, and also expanded partnerships with local, state, and foreign law enforcement agencies. The Commodities Futures Trading Commission released a public awareness message about how fraudsters use and recruit people to facilitate romance fraud and “wrong number” text message scams, where fraudsters strike up conversations touting their wealth and success in trading crypto assets, over-the-counter foreign currency, or gold contracts to try and convince consumers to “invest” in crypto assets.
The agencies involved in this effort urge consumers to be on the lookout for signs someone is trying to recruit them to receive and transmit fraud proceeds. Do not agree to receive money or checks mailed to you or sent to your bank account for someone you have met over the phone or online. Do not open a bank or cryptocurrency account at someone else’s direction. Fraudsters will lie to persuade you to help them. They may falsely tell you that they are helping you get a lottery prize, initiate a purported romantic relationship and then tell you that they need money, or pretend to offer you a job, an opportunity to invest in a business venture, or the chance to help in a charitable effort.
For more information on this initiative, please visit https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumerprotection-branch/money-mule-init….
Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
Norwalk- The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle intersection crash that occurred on Monday May 22, 2023 at 4:02 PM at the intersection of US Highway 20 and State Route 4 in Lyme Township, Huron County, Ohio.
Jeannette Waibel, age 58, of Willard, Ohio, was driving a 2010 gray Buick sedan southbound on State Route 4. Oleg Gubenya, age 61, of Pleasant Hope,Missouri, was driving a beige 2021 Vovlo Semi westbound on US Highway 20. As Jeannette Waibel entered the intersection, she was struck by Oleg Gubenya’s semi. Both vehicles came to final rest in the roadway.
Oleg Gubenya was wearing his safety belt and reported no injuries as a result of the crash.
Jeannette Waibel was wearing her safety belt and was trapped within the sedan. She was freed by mechanical means and was flown by Mercy Health LifeFlight to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center.
It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash at this time. The crash remains under investigation.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Bellevue Fire Department, North Central EMS, Mercy Health LifeFlight, Ohio Department of Transportation, Interstate Towing, and Madison Towing.
Ridgefield Township– The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury commercial vehicle rollover crash that occurred Thursday May 18, 2023 at 7:32 a.m. The incident occurred on US Route 20 near milepost 6 in the Township of Ridgefield, Huron County.
Renard Nelson, age 42, of Valrico, Florida was driving a 2016 Volvo tractor trailer westbound on US 20. Mr. Nelson traveled off the right side of the roadway, overturned, and struck a utility pole and two trees before coming to final rest.
Mr. Nelson was not wearing his safety belt at the time of the crash. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to Fisher Titus Medical Center by North Central EMS. Interstate Towing removed the vehicle from the scene.
Distracted driving and drugs appear to be factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting agencies included: Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Huron River Joint Fire District, Monroeville Police Department, North Central EMS, Monroeville Road and Electrical Departments, and Interstate Towing.
It’s Just One Way That the Attorney General’s Office Serves Older Ohioans, Their Families
Older Americans Month in May is a time to celebrate the achievements and longevity of our elders, but just as important, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says, is reinforcing our collective responsibility to protect their dignity and keep them safe as they age.
“Not only does my office go after those who neglect, steal and abuse older Ohioans,” Yost said, “but we also work hard to help older adults who go missing return home safely to loved ones.”
Key to the latter efforts is the Endangered Missing Adult Alert program, which is administered by the attorney general’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Using statewide emergency alerts, BCI works collaboratively with local law enforcement agencies to help find endangered older Ohioans who are reported missing. In many cases, the missing adults have dementia or other health challenges and could be in danger.
“A lot of Ohioans are probably familiar with the AMBER Alert system – which is used for endangered or abducted children, but far fewer may know that there’s a similar program to help locate older adults who are reported missing,” Yost said.
Like AMBER Alerts, Endangered Missing Adult Alerts rely heavily on the public’s help. Since Ohio implemented the program in 2008, the adult alerts – also like AMBER Alerts – have proved overwhelmingly effective.
Last year, for example, BCI issued 146 missing adult alerts based on requests from law enforcement agencies in 38 Ohio counties and two nearby states, West Virginia and New York. In all but one instance – a Dec. 7, 2022, alert issued in Clermont County – the missing older adult was either found by law enforcement or identified by the public, or returned home on his or her own.
According to the Clermont County alert, 72-year-old Thomas Mills left his residence on foot at 8 a.m. Dec. 6 and did not return. Mills, who is on the autism spectrum, has not been found, but the case remains under investigation.
So how does the Endangered Missing Adult Alert system work?
The process generally goes like this:
A local law enforcement agency receives a call about an older adult with cognitive challenges who has turned up missing.
The agency confirms, per the alert requirements under state law, that:
The missing adult is at least 65 years old or has a mental impairment, and/or has autism spectrum disorder or another developmental disability.
The individual’s disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death to the individual.
There is sufficient descriptive information about the individual and the circumstances surrounding his or her disappearance to indicate that an alert will help find the individual.
The agency initiates a search and reaches out to BCI to issue an Endangered Missing Adult Alert.
Additionally, a law enforcement agency can request that alerts be displayed on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s electronic billboards and highway message boards throughout the state. Likewise, the Ohio Turnpike can activate a license-plate reader system to help identify the missing adult’s vehicle.
Besides the Endangered Missing Adult Alert program, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) also helps older Ohioans by investigating – upon request from local law enforcement agencies – cases of elder abuse.
Yost’s Elder Justice Unit is an essential resource for protecting Ohio’s elderly population. The unit – a collaborative efforts among the AGO’s Crime Victim Services, Consumer Protection, Health Care Fraud and Social Prosecutions sections and BCI – works to educate Ohioans about the warning signs and risks of financial exploitation. Elderly people, especially, are vulnerable to such crime.
For more information on the Elder Justice Unit, or to get support for a victim of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, call 800-282-0515.
Marion – Troopers from the Marion Post are investigating a serious injury crash that occurred on May 13, 2023, at approximately 7:51 PM, on State Route 95 in Montgomery Township, Marion County.
The crash involved a 2016 Subaru WRX, driven by Johnny Arthur II, age 32 , of LaRue, Ohio. The preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Arthur was traveling westbound on State Route 95. According to witnesses, a black BMW sport utility vehicle was overtaking the Subaru as an eastbound vehicle approached.
The BMW swerved into the westbound lane causing Mr. Arthur to travel off the right side of the roadway. M r. Arthur’s vehicle struck a driveway embankment and a house before overturning. His vehicle then struck a parked vehicle and a tree. During the crash, Mr. Arthur was ejected from the Subaru.
The black BMW did not remain at the scene.
Mr. Arthur was transported by Scioto Valley EMS to Marion General Hospital. Mr. Arthur was then taken by CareFlight to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio for further treatment.
A preliminary evaluation of evidence indicates that contact was made between the black BMW sport utility vehicle and the Subaru. Damage could be contained to the right side of the BMW. If you have any information regarding this investigation, plea se contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol at (740) 383-2181.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Scioto Valley Fire and EMS, Northern Union County Fire and EMS, Red Cross, and Kirby’s Towing.
According to the Social Security Administration Olivia and Liam are once again America’s most popular baby names in 2022.
Liam has topped the list for six years in a row, and Olivia has been the top choice for new parents for four years.
There is only one new name in the top 10, with Luna crawling into the top 10 for the first time.
Here are the top 10 boys’ and girls’ names for 2022:
Social Security began compiling the baby names list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880.
Each year, the list reveals the effect of pop-culture on naming trends.
Here are the top five fastest rising boys’ and girls’ names in 2022:
Visit www.ssa.gov/babynames to view the entire list and see where your name ranks now and over the past 100 years.
“Just like your name, Social Security is with you from day one. One of the first things parents do for their newborn is get them a Social Security number. That makes Social Security the ultimate source for the most popular baby names each year!” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “And just like a name, Social Security is with you through life’s journey.
A federal jury in Northern District of Ohio convicted Michael J. Zacharias, a priest, of five counts of sex trafficking. The charges related to three victims, two of whom Zacharias trafficked when they were minors and as adults. The evidence presented to the jury detailed how Zacharias paid the victims to engage in sex acts with him using the victims’ fear of serious harm to compel their compliance.
Specifically, the jury heard evidence of how Zacharias first met the victims when they were young boys, and he was a Seminarian at St. Catherine’s Catholic Parish school in Toledo, Ohio, and how Zacharias began grooming the boys for commercial sex acts, using his position as a priest and teacher to ingratiate himself with the boys and their families as a trusted friend, mentor and spiritual counselor. The defendant overcame the victims’ resistance to his eventual commercial sex overtures by gradually sexualizing conversations and conduct with them. At the same time, the victims were developing serious opiate addictions, using pain medication and, later, heroin. Zacharias waited to propose commercial sex until he knew the victims were so heavily involved in drug abuse that it was impacting their daily lives, physical and mental well-being and ability to maintain a stable school or work life.
The victims’ testimony explained how, in varying degrees, they submitted to Zacharias’ commercial sex solicitations because they feared the psychological harm of losing Zacharias as a father figure and friend, losing their connection to the Church and God, and suffering the painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal that could be alleviated with the money provided by Zacharias to purchase drugs. One victim in particular – the older brother of another victim – also explained how he feared Zacharias would sexually abuse his minor brother and others if he did not continue to comply with the defendant’s commercial sex solicitations.
“This defendant betrayed the victims in the most inhumane way,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “He robbed them of their childhood, their dignity and their faith. He inflicted cruel psychological harm, preying on their fears and forcing them to choose between submitting to commercial sex acts, or incurring the pain of losing a father figure or counselor, suffering withdrawal sickness, and risking sexual abuse of a loved one. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders like Michael Zacharias accountable and bring justice to their victims.”
“This verdict sends a clear message to those who prey upon children by using positions of trust to further their crimes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office will continue to protect our children by aggressively prosecuting child predators who engage in sex trafficking.”
“The defendant not only abused his victims, but also betrayed the trust placed in him by the congregation and those who dutifully serve parishes across the country,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The FBI is committed to finding and investigating child predators, so no other people become victim to deceitful and abhorrent behavior.”
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Zacharias faces a fifteen-year mandatory minimum and lifetime maximum sentence. Restitution in this case is mandatory under the law.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Baeppler made the announcement.
The Lima and Toledo Resident Agencies of the FBI Cleveland Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Joe Lyons •
May 24, 2023
Norwalk- The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle intersection crash that occurred on Monday May 22, 2023 at 4:02 PM at the intersection of US Highway 20 and State Route 4 in Lyme Township, Huron County, Ohio.
Ridgefield Township– The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury commercial vehicle rollover crash that occurred Thursday May 18, 2023 at 7:32 a.m. The incident occurred on US Route 20 near milepost 6 in the Township of Ridgefield, Huron County.
Marion – Troopers from the Marion Post are investigating a serious injury crash that occurred on May 13, 2023, at approximately 7:51 PM, on State Route 95 in Montgomery Township, Marion County.
