CLEVELAND — Ten men were arrested on Thursday as a part of a one-day human trafficking sting operation that was held in North Olmsted, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.
The operation was conducted in conjunction with the North Olmsted Police Department, Westshore Enforcement Bureau and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force "to identify those providing and purchasing commercial sex." The 10 individuals arrested include:
- Ahmed Aljabri, Cleveland, 41
- Sha Chuwan, Erie, Pennsylvania, 32
- Dan Keenan, Jr., Westlake, 53
- William Minor, Cleveland, 52
- Jeffrey Ohl, LaGrange, 53
- Erwin Palma-Torres, Garrettsville, 30
- Jacob Safran, Royal Oak, Michigan, 32
- Raymond Schillinger, Akron, 53
- Carl Whepley Jr., Perry, 55
- Errol Jackson, Lorain, 35
A press release noted that Errol Jackson of Lorain is a registered Tier III sex offender. Jackson was arrested for promoting prostitution, a fourth-degree felony, and is being held in the Cuyahoga County jail with additional charges expected.
Dan Keenan Jr. is a former superintendent at Westlake City Schools. He served in that role from 2007-14, per his LinkedIn page. He currently serves as executive director of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.
3News confirmed that Jeffrey Ohl is a teacher with the Keystone Local School District. In a statement, Keystone Superintendent Dan While announced that Ohl has been suspended from work.
As soon as we were made aware of the situation, Ohl was immediately suspended and is barred from District property," While wrote. "We are cooperating with law enforcement. Legally, we are not able to comment on ongoing police investigations."
“The North Olmsted Police Department will not tolerate this type of activity in our city,” North Olmsted Chief of Police Bob Wagner added. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute those individuals that come to our city and violate our laws. We greatly appreciate the help from our law enforcement partners and look forward to continuing this relationship in the future.”
As a part of the operation, seven potential human trafficking victims were identified provided resources from multiple agencies who assisted the task force, including the Canopy Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and the Harriett Tubman Movement.
“This is a great example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies work in collaboration to dismantle human trafficking operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of the Detroit office of Homeland Security Investigations. “This cooperation not only allows us to apprehend the perpetrators but also identify the victims and provide them with services and support.”
The sting came on the same day that 36-year-old Steven Gilbert of Elyria was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of multiple human trafficking and sexual assault charges last week. Gilbert was arrested in November of 2021 on accusations of operating a human trafficking ring for multiple years, with prosecutors stating that he "physically and psychologically abused" at least nine women, all while raping, beating, drugging, and withholding food from them if they did not meet his demands.
“Yesterday was a banner day for the task force,” Yost said in a statement, referencing Gilbert's sentencing. “Their commitment to wiping out the scourge of human trafficking is making a difference in the lives of the victims and having a big impact on the region.”