Local

UPDATED | Fourteen arrested in online sex sting

By Mahoning Matters staff and Justin Dennis
(Ohio Attorney General)
(Ohio Attorney General)

LIBERTY — A reverse prostitution sting on Sunday netted 14 suspects accused of trying to buy sex on the internet — one of whom is a professional sports official living in Youngstown.

Liberty Township Police Department and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force coordinated the effort under the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, according to a Monday release.

"John stings deter those seeking to purchase sex — reducing the demand for human trafficking — and serve as a reminder that these crimes are more prevalent and closer to home than you may think," Attorney General Dave Yost said.

"Hats off to Chief [Toby] Meloro and the Liberty Township Police Department on their successful operation."

Each were charged with misdemeanor counts of soliciting and possessing criminal tools:

  • Willie Daniels Jr., 37, of Youngstown
  • Saad Elamin, 43, of Campbell
  • Omar Farooq, 37, of Hermitage, Pa.
  • Thomas Hendricks, 66, of Salem
  • Ryan Kirkpatrick, 26, whose residence is unknown
  • Harry Krause, 63, of Youngstown
  • Matthew Lennington, 28, of Cortland
  • James Lohmier, 38, of Boardman
  • Nick Mymo, 37, of Niles
  • Brian O'Nora, 57, is a Major League Baseball umpire who's lived at his Austintown home since 2003, according to Mahoning County Auditor records. He's worked in the league since 1992, according to Wikipedia.
  • David Shaffer, 46, of Mineral Ridge
  • William Shaw Sr., 58, of Moyock, N.C.
  • Brian Van Divner, 54, of New Franklin
  • Johnny Young, 55, of Youngstown

Agencies involved in the operation included: Liberty Township Police Department; the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force; the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force; Mahoning County Sheriff's Office; Austintown Police Department; Youngstown Police Department; the Ohio State Highway Patrol; the Ohio Investigative Unit; and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

This story was originally published December 7, 2020 at 12:37 PM with the headline "UPDATED | Fourteen arrested in online sex sting."