Cortland is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, with a population of about 7,000 residents. It is located on the eastern shore of Mosquito Creek Reservoir about 20 miles north of Youngstown (part of that city is in Trumbull County, the remainder in Mahoning). Prostitution activity has been well-documented in Cortland and in nearby communities (such as Warren), and in unincorporated areas of Trumbull County. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates result in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. For example, in April 2016 three people were charged in Cortland after police responded to a report of a missing bank card. One man called police to report that a man and woman who were visiting his apartment took his bank card and didn’t return it. He also told police that when the other man left the apartment to pick up a friend, he paid the woman $40 to have sex with him. All three were charged with offenses including theft, complicity to theft, and compelling prostitution.

Consumer-level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office has collaborated with local law enforcement agencies within the county, including the Cortland Police Department and area task forces, on other operations as well. For example, in July 2019 the Ohio Attorney and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor announced stings in northeast Ohio carried out during MLB All-Star Week. Investigators called the efforts “Operation Triple Play” and “Operation Home Run.” At least 49 adults went to court on charges of soliciting prostitution and other offenses, including felony charges of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning, possessing criminal tools, and attempting corruption with drugs. These and other offenses occurred when offenders chatted online with officers posing as teens, and arranged to purchase sex. Undercover agents from the Cuyahoga County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force participated in the operations, with the arrests targeting human trafficking around local hotels. Those arrested for trying to purchase sex with children ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s. The AG’s Office posted a news release that included the identities of all 49 people arrested. Across both operations, participating law enforcement agencies included: the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force (Columbus Division of Police, Ohio Investigative Unit), Mahoning County Human Trafficking Task Force (Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation), Cuyahoga Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Police Department), the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Office of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, Newburgh Heights Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cleveland Police, U.S. Secret Services, Austintown Township Police Department, Solon Police Department, Streetsboro Police Department, Cortland Police Department and the Kent Police Department.