PHILADELPHIA, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Friday morning that an Ohio man has been arrested and will be extradited to Pennsylvania to face multiple charges, including felony human trafficking. The arrest marks the successful disruption of a multi-state human trafficking operation.
Donte Lashawn Cole, 38, is accused of recruiting at least three young women—among them a juvenile—into a human trafficking ring. He allegedly placed them in hotel rooms where they performed sexual acts for money. “The victims were fearful that if they tried to leave, Cole would harm them,” the Attorney General’s Office said.
“The defendant, like most traffickers, was methodical and calculated in how he chose his victims,” said Attorney General Henry. “These victims were vulnerable and, once under the defendant’s control, felt they had no means of escape. I commend my team and our partner agencies for exposing and halting this trafficking ring.”
The multi-agency investigation originated during a drug probe at a hotel in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, where officials discovered that Cole had posted online advertisements featuring photos of the victims. One of the victims is said to have been recruited by Cole at just 12 years old.