Two Youngstown men were among the 49 total arrested during two concurrent Human Trafficking Task Force operations that took place during the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. 

"Here's a billboard for sexual predators: Don't buy sex in Ohio," Yost said. "There's no safe haven for these crimes in our state, and my office and local law enforcement partners are committed to keeping it that way."

Operation Homerun led to the arrest of 21 individuals soliciting for prostitution and was conducted by the Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

"Buyers soliciting for prostitution are sex predators who fund the human trafficking behind the scenes, where pimps profit from exploiting the vulnerabilities of their victims," said Mark Rapp, Director of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. "Men who buy sex may think they are a party to a victimless crime. They couldn't be more wrong; the women advertised for paid sexual services are often trafficked through commercial sex." 

Operation Triple Play led to the arrest of 28 individuals looking to engage in sexual activity with whom they believed were minor children.

Those arrested during this operation that could face felony charges of Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Importuning, Possess Criminal Tools and Attempting Corruption with Drugs.

"Online predators are a hidden threat to children throughout this community.  The success of this operation should serve as a stern reminder to perpetrators – if you attempt to exploit children online, we will catch you," O'Malley said. "This operation would not have been possible without the teamwork of the numerous law enforcement agencies involved."

Those arrested during Operation Triple Play:

  • Anthony Gentry, 29, Youngstown 
  • Steven Prest, 36, Youngstown 
  • Jacob Hale, 20, Cleveland 
  • Kyle Ferguson, 21, Medina 
  • Denis Ismailaj, 22, Lakewood 
  • Jacob Hoover, 22, Brunswick 
  • Tyler Reed, 23, Parma 
  • Luis Ponciano, 23, Lorain 
  • Sebastien Juin, 24, Cleveland 
  • Jonathan Staples, 24, Barberton 
  • Maurice Cannon, 26, Cleveland Heights 
  • Julio Torres, 26, Cleveland 
  • Jamal Williams, 26, Cleveland 
  • Justin Raab, 26, Painesville 
  • Michael Mills, 27, Westlake 
  • Douglas Rosenthal, 27, Cleveland 
  • Peter Nelson, 28, Cleveland 
  • Jason Chandler, 28, Akron 
  • Carlos Crespo, 29, Brunswick 
  • Aaron Hawley, 30, Sheffield Village 
  • Scott Carrigan, 31, Chardon 
  • Phillip Pate, 31, Lakewood 
  • Derek Smon, 31, Lakewood 
  • Jason Conley, 32, Painesville 
  • Eric Flores, 40, Cleveland 
  • Vincenzo Rampini, 43, Mentor 
  • Norman Thompson, 49, Chesterland 
  • James Schultz, 67, Parma 

Those arrested during Operation Homerun:

  • David Albert, 45, Westlake 
  • Geovani Morales, 45 Kenilworth, N.J. 
  • Dawit Bekel, 29, Richmond Heights 
  • Ron Mitchell, 52, Avon 
  • Leonard Majasi, 52, Weslake 
  • Roger Hoover, 57, Chillicothe 
  • Michael Barta, 23, Brecksville 
  • Ronald Olbrys, 51, Reminderville 
  • James Blue III, 28, Cleveland 
  • Brian Brown, 50, Cleveland 
  • Gregory Shaffer, 59, Maple Heights 
  • Timothy Laplante, 60, North Olmstead 
  • Ibrahim Salty, 32, Cleveland 
  • Daniel Abraham, 52, Walton Hills 
  • Simon Lewis, 44, Lyndhurst 
  • Cory Kyovsky, 29, Cleveland 
  • Michael Gallese, 26, Cleveland 
  • Krishna Adusumilli, 25, Illegal Alien 
  • Anthony Petruziello, 41, Wickliffe 
  • Anthony Ciresi, 52, Seven Hills 
  • Larry Clark, 37, Beechwood