Human trafficking is a grave criminal offense in Ohio, involving the exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, or involuntary servitude. Under Ohio Revised Code § 2905.32, human trafficking is considered a severe violation of personal rights and freedom, with strict penalties designed to combat this widespread issue. The state aggressively prosecutes these cases to protect victims and deter perpetrators.
Cincinnati Human Trafficking Defense Attorney
Human trafficking charges can arise in various scenarios, including accusations of forcing individuals into labor or engaging in activities related to exploitation and other sex crimes. If you are facing such charges, having experienced legal representation is essential to ensure your rights are protected.
The Wieczorek Law Firm, LLC, led by Mark Wieczorek serves all of Ohio, including Hamilton County, Butler County, Clermont County, Brown County, Highland County, Clinton County, Preble County, Scioto County, Greene County, Montgomery County, and Warren County, and Southern Ohio. Call Mark Wieczorek at (513) 317-5987 for a free consultation or complete our contact form.
Overview of Human Trafficking
- Human Trafficking under Ohio Law
- Penalties for Human Trafficking
- Defenses for Human Trafficking
- Additional Resources
- Hire an Attorney for Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking under Ohio Law
Human trafficking in Ohio refers to the illegal practice of recruiting, transporting, harboring, or exploiting individuals through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. This crime is a grave violation of human rights and often involves the manipulation or abuse of vulnerable individuals. Victims may be exploited for labor, commercial sexual activities, or other forms of involuntary servitude. The crime impacts both adults and minors, with particularly severe penalties for trafficking cases involving minors under 18 years old, regardless of their consent. The statute states as follows:
(A) No person shall knowingly recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain, or knowingly attempt to recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain, another person if either of the following applies:
(1) The offender knows that the other person will be subjected to involuntary servitude or be compelled to engage in sexual activity for hire, engage in a performance that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented, or be a model or participant in the production of material that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented.
(2) The other person is less than eighteen years of age or is a person with a developmental disability whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a person with a developmental disability, and either the offender knows that the other person will be subjected to involuntary servitude or the offender’s knowing recruitment, luring, enticement, isolation, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, or maintenance of the other person or knowing attempt to recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain the other person is for any of the following purposes:
(a) For the other person to engage in sexual activity for hire with one or more third parties;
(b) To engage in a performance for hire that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented;
(c) To be a model or participant for hire in the production of material that is obscene, sexually oriented, or nudity oriented.
Some examples include:
- Sex Trafficking: Victims, often coerced through violence, intimidation, or manipulation, are forced into prostitution or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. Traffickers frequently use psychological tactics, such as threats against family members, to maintain control.
- Labor Trafficking: Exploiting individuals by withholding wages, confiscating personal identification, or threatening physical harm to compel them into involuntary labor. This can occur in factories, restaurants, or even private residences.
- Debt Bondage: Forcing individuals to work under the pretense of repaying fabricated or excessive debts. Often, these debts are impossible to repay, trapping victims in a cycle of exploitation.
- Transporting Victims Across State Lines: Moving individuals from one location to another, often between states or countries, for the purpose of exploiting them in forced labor or sexual activities.
Penalties
Human trafficking is a felony in Ohio, with penalties varying based on the circumstances of the case:
Second-Degree Felony – Applies to most offenses involving adults.
- Up to 8 years in prison and/or
- Fines up to $15,000.
First-Degree Felony – Involves trafficking minors or aggravated circumstances.
- Up to 11 years in prison and/or
- Fines up to $20,000.
Additional penalties may include mandatory registration as a Tier III sex offender (in cases involving sexual exploitation).
Common Defenses
- Mistaken Identity: Arguing that the accused was not involved in the trafficking operation.
- Insufficient Evidence: Challenging the prosecution’s evidence to create reasonable doubt.
Additional Resources
- Ohio Revised Code § 2905.32: Human trafficking in Ohio refers to the illegal practice of recruiting, transporting, harboring, or exploiting individuals through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Read more about the statute here.
- Sex Crimes: Have you been arrested or charged with a sex offense? Then you need to hire a lawyer immediately. Contact The Wieczorek Law Firm today.
Hire a Human Trafficking Defense Lawyer in Hamilton County, Ohio
Human trafficking charges carry severe consequences, but you don’t have to face them alone. At the Wieczorek Law Firm, we are dedicated to providing legal defense for individuals in Southern Ohio. We will work tirelessly on your case and advocate for the best possible outcome.
The Wieczorek Law Firm, LLC, led by Mark Wieczorek serves all of Ohio, including Hamilton County, Butler County, Clermont County, Brown County, Highland County, Clinton County, Preble County, Scioto County, Greene County, Montgomery County, and Warren County, and Southern Ohio. Call Mark Wieczorek at (513) 317-5987 for a free consultation or complete our contact form.