Buckeye Reporter

A Cleveland man was sentenced to 30 to 37½ years in prison for his involvement in multistate human trafficking activities. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley announced the sentencing of Deondre Inkton, 32, for his exploitation of 12 women across various states, forcing them into prostitution for his financial benefit.

“This was textbook human trafficking – a criminal resorting to violence and drugs to control his victims and profit off their suffering,” said Attorney General Yost. Appreciation was also extended to the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and Prosecutor O'Malley for their efforts in securing a conviction.

Inkton's sentencing follows a guilty plea to several felony charges on February 5, including trafficking in persons, promoting prostitution, sexual battery, money laundering, and possessing criminal tools. Additionally, Inkton relinquished $16,682 in cash and three firearms as part of the legal proceedings. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office handled the case.

“I am incredibly proud to be one of the many law enforcement partners on the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force,” stated Prosecutor O’Malley. “Their hard work directly led to this dangerous man’s removal from our streets.”

Investigations conducted by the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), linked Inkton to over 4,000 sex advertisements spanning 12 states, with 2,000 ads concentrated in Ohio. Detectives uncovered that Inkton coerced women into prostitution through physical and sexual abuse and profited through cash and electronic transfers, moving his victims across states over a decade.

The crime-fighting efforts involve a comprehensive task force led by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, with contributions from multiple law enforcement and advocacy organizations across the region.

The Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission supervises seven human trafficking task forces operating daily, serving over half of Ohio's population by encompassing 25 counties.

For those who suspect human trafficking activities in Ohio, resources are available to report such occurrences through a dedicated hotline, text service, app, and online submissions.