In efforts to reduce instances of prostitution and sex trafficking, various demand reduction tactics have been deployed, targeting individuals seeking to purchase commercial sex in the county. For example, in September 2019, members of the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, along with over 30 other local law enforcement agencies, took part in a multi-organization team to combat human trafficking in central Ohio. The web-based reverse sting operation, “Fourth and Goal,” led by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Columbus Division of Police, and Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, resulted in the arrest of 104 individuals on prostitution related charges, including 40 soliciting prostitution charges, 53 felony charges, and 24 charges for importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. One individual faced additional charges of attempted rape and another faced an additional charge of disseminating matter harmful for juveniles. All charges concerning minors are felonies. Additionally, 43 women were provided with social services and referred to CATCH Court. Agencies and social service organizations involved in the operation included the following: the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfield County Prosecutor’s Office, and a collaboration of at least 25 additional police departments, sheriff’s offices, prosecutor’s offices, and task forces. Many of those arrested, according to reports, also faced additional charges for attempting to solicit a minor. The names of all offenders were released to the public, and local news outlets showed mugshots for those charged for importuning a minor.

In January 2020, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Pickerington Police Department, conducted a web-based reverse sting operation in the city of Canal Winchester that resulted in the arrest of six male sex buyers. As a result of “Operation Foul Ball,” all six male sex buyers were arrested and charged with ORC 2907.23A2-Enticement or solicitation to patronize a prostitute. In addition, officers used cameras to record transactions between law enforcement and arrested sex buyers. The identities of arrested offenders had their identifying information released to the public, and as a part of their sentence, they were mandated to attend a “John School” education program. According to a statement by the Fairfield Chief Deputy, Alex Lape, in the program, sex buyers are educated on the connection between prostitution and sex trafficking in addition to learning about the underlying dangers and consequences of purchasing commercial sex:

“It is an awareness-type training for them that lets them know 100 percent what they are putting their money into. It isn’t just a sex act, they are victimizing a person that is already a victim.”

The identities, ages, charges, and occupations of arrested sex buyers were released by local media outlets.

In November 2021, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the results of an additional web-based reverse sting in which 23 male sex buyers were arrested. According to the sheriff’s office, the stings were held on Nov. 5, 2021 and Nov. 12, 2021, in the cities of Lancaster and Pickerington. The men arrested were charged with engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor, with some of them facing additional drug and weapons charges. The sheriff’s office said it confiscated four firearms during the arrests. The suspects ranged in age from 22 to 67-years-old. Nine of the suspects were residents of Columbus. The operations were conducted with the assistance of the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force. In a statement about the stings, the sheriff’s office wrote:

“These operations, referred to as ‘John Stings,’ with Detectives from the Investigations Bureau working in undercover assignments, targets those individuals who perpetuate the demand for prostitution and human trafficking.”

Law enforcement has also apprehended sex buyers through alternative investigations. For example, in 2017, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office participated in an investigation led by the Circleville Police Department focused on reducing crime in the city. Officials conducted the investigation in response to numerous complaints regarding the increase in drug and prostitution offenses occurring in the city. In addition to numerous arrests on additional offenses, three male sex buyers were arrested and their identities were released in reports by local media outlets.

In August 2022, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau, with the assistance of the Lancaster Police Department, New Horizons Mental Health, and the Lancaster City Law Director’s Office, conducted a web-based reverse sting in the city of Lancaster, “targeting individuals who perpetuate the demand for prostitution and, thusly, human trafficking.” As a result of the operation, six men were arrested for Engaging in Prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor. Their identities and images were included in reports by local media outlets. According to reports, this was the fourth such operation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office in the past year (2022) with forty-four (44) total offenders being apprehended as a result.