PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Law enforcement officials are investigating a Pickerington massage parlor suspected of acting as a front for human trafficking, prostitution and money laundering.
According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, Pickering Police Department and other agencies served multiple warrants at Massage Experts, located at 1234 Hill Road North, just north of Refugee Road.
Detectives searched a private residence in connection to the investigation.
"Shortly after they opened is when we started receiving some complaints and some information,” said Pickerington Police Chief Tod Cheney.
Chief Cheney said detectives had been investigating Massage Experts for about eight months.
"They saw some signs of possibly human trafficking type activity going on within the business,” Cheney said.
Cheney said these types of human trafficking operations typically start with people being brought into a business to commit sexual acts.
"Sometimes they're forced into that, sometimes they're threatened to be into those particular positions, sometimes families are threatened, sometimes they have to work out quote on quote debts,” Cheney said.
Detectives interviewed multiple people connected to the business Tuesday.
"Some are in management or ownership, and some are workers,” Cheney said.
At this time, Cheney said no children were believed to be involved in this operation. He added the investigation is far from over.
"With the search warrants executed that just means we're right in the middle of this investigation. It’s something we're going to take very seriously,” Cheney said.
Anyone with direct information about any crimes at the business is asked to contact Pickerington police at 614-575-6911.
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