An Ohio man is accused of keeping two women and a teen captive in a Monroeville motel for at least four months and forcing them to work as prostitutes.
Donte LaShawen Cole, 38, of Euclid, Ohio, was charged Thursday with 19 felonies — eight counts of human trafficking, six counts of involuntary servitude, two counts each of operating a corrupt organization and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity and a count of criminal use of a communications facility, according to court records.
According to a criminal complaint, agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security were conducting surveillance of the Roadway Inn on Mosside Boulevard on May 9 and became suspicious after seeing several men enter and leave one of the rooms throughout the day.
When agents knocked on the door, they found two women who told them that they were working as prostitutes for Cole. One of the women was 21 and the other was 20. A 16-year-old girl who told police she also worked for Cole was found in another room at the motel.
The two women told police that they were recruited to work for Cole by the teenager and that they were expected to earn between $600 and $700 each a day. They said Cole provided them with food, clothing and hygiene products.
The women told investigators that they sent nude photos of themselves to Cole who posted explicit advertisements for sex on websites.
Agents said the ads were placed in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and other states.
The women told investigators that Cole threatened to harm them if they left, saying: “Ya’ll try to leave, there will be consequences,” according to the complaint.
Court records show that Cole pleaded guilty in 2010 to a felony robbery charge filed by Philadelphia police and was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in jail.
