A Democrat lawmaker and several elites were arrested in Ohio amid a massive pedophile ring bust, the largest in history.
A total of 161 suspects were apprehended and ten children were rescued in the bust.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost confirmed that his team had taken down the largest child sex trafficking ring in history.
“Operation Ohio Knows” is a joint task force combining the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.
According to Fox 8, the suspects include a home renovation contractor, an Elyria city council member named Mark Jessie, 64; a firefighter, a teacher, a professor, and even a pilot who made over $200,000 a year and haggled the price down to $15. With a 2-year-old in the car, another suspect was apprehended.
“Reducing the demand means that we reduce the number of people who are victimized by human trafficking,” he said.
He went on to say, “The survivor does not tell you, ‘I don’t really want to do this but if I don’t I’m going to be beaten,’ or ‘If I don’t he’s going to withhold my drugs and I’ll go into withdrawal and I can’t deal with that.’”
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said that along with combating human trafficking, the operation recovered 10 missing children.
She said they are working with the courts, schools, health care facilities and other communities partners statewide to address this very serious issue.
Columbus Police Officer Dana Hess thanked the nearly 100 agencies that participated in the operation.
“Ohio knows what’s going on in our state. Ohio knows what’s going on in our country and Ohio knows what’s going on in our world,” Hess said. “So if you’re buying sex from another human being or sexually exploiting another human being for your own personal gain, you better watch out because Ohio knows and we are coming after you.”
