An Ohio man, Grant Rose, has been convicted on 15 different charges relating to his role in a human trafficking scheme with his girlfriend, according to a release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
Rose and his girlfriend, Susan Walendzik, trafficked a minor and controlled her by getting her addicted to narcotics and fueling her addiction.
“This couple sowed the seeds of degradation: addiction, violence and sexual abuse – and will now reap the grim reality of decades behind bars,” Yost said. “My hope is that these sentences empower the once-victim to recognize she’s a survivor so she can reclaim her true identity.”
In total, he was charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, 13 counts of trafficking in persons, and one count of promoting prostitution. After his conviction, he was sentenced to more than 42 years in prison.
Walendzik previously pleaded guilty to a host of similar violations. She will face 18 years in prison and must register as a Tier 2 sex offender for 25 years.
The Attorney General’s office has placed an emphasis on stopping the growing crime. Last year, a sting operation, involving multiple agencies, identified 53 victims and resulted in 93 arrests. It was also the first time in the state that those seeking to purchase sex were charged with engaging in prostitution.
“Operation 614 is the latest in a long series of efforts to push back against human trafficking in Ohio,” said Ohio Attorney General Yost in a statement. “I am so proud of our law enforcement partners, who with their boots on the ground made this operation a success. We all look forward to that day when no person is bought or sold for sex in Ohio.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Courtroom” by Karen Neoh. CC BY 2.0.
