21 rescued in Kentucky human trafficking sting; dozens from Cincinnati area arrested
Updated: 12:19 PM EDT Sep 1, 2021
Twenty-one people were rescued, including two minors, in a Kentucky human trafficking sting, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday. More than 40 people — most from the Cincinnati area — have now been arrested. The sting was part of Operation United Front, a multi-state human trafficking sting carried out across 12 states. Led by Kentucky State Police, the Commonwealth's efforts focused largely on Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and McCracken County.Authorities provided few details on the actual sting operation itself and who was targeted, adding only that 21 people were rescued. "Unfortunately, this crime is occurring in every county, in every community across the commonwealth, but we will keep fighting to make life better and safer for all Kentuckians, especially our children,” Beshear said.Most of the 46 individuals arrested in Kentucky's operation are from the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, according to arrest reports. “This sends a message to human traffickers across the country that their actions will not be tolerated. We will be vigilant in finding those who prey upon our most vulnerable, especially our children," a statement from Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. reads in part.Those arrested include: Keith Clapp, 50, Dearborn County; Jason Crider, 38, Kenton County; Guzman Baudilio, 40, Hamilton County; Marshall Payne, 35, Hamilton County; Christopher Christman, 47, Hamilton County; Ellahzar Henson, 39, Campbell County; Douglas Whittamore, 51, Grant County; Michael Rolfsen, 61, Hamilton County; Moulay Driss, 26, Kenton County; Michael Winn, 37, Pinellas County, Florida; Scott Weiskittel, 52, Kenton County; Charles Williams, 30, Hamilton County; Paris Lee, 20, Hamilton County; Christopher Turner, 37, Boone County; Joseph Odle, 42, Boone County; Brandon Kilby, 36, Boone County; Amir Shemony, 39, Hamilton County; Mitchell Kiskaden, 33, Boone County; Shakhzod Khosonov, 20, Hamilton County; Julian Morgan, 45, Hamilton County; Jacob Smith, 28, Kenton County; David Evans, 42, Hamilton County; Brandy Kason, 34, Hamilton County; Tyler Caldwell, 23, Hamilton County; Milique Bartholow, 25, Hamilton County; Timur Baltabaev, 25, Kenton County; Mark Hardy, 35, Boone County; Kevin Adams, 33, Hamilton County; James Yannekis, 37, Montgomery County; Sheroz Tursunov, 35, Butler County; James Mendell, 50, Boone County; Travis Baker, 40, Adams County; Michael Petras, 63, Boone County; William Remke, 65, Kenton County; Zachary Brogan, 35, Switzerland County; Ryan Goens, 40, Hamilton County; Jason Meyer, 45, Kenton County; Abraham Kuranga, 39, Hamilton County; Christopher Terry, 45, Clay County, Mississippi; Noah McCoy, 21, Solano County, California; Dustin Tapp, 33, Boone County; and Paul Baurichter, 31, Clermont County.Kentucky's sting resulted in more arrests than any other agency participating.
Twenty-one people were rescued, including two minors, in a Kentucky human trafficking sting, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday.
More than 40 people — most from the Cincinnati area — have now been arrested.
The sting was part of Operation United Front, a multi-state human trafficking sting carried out across 12 states.
Led by Kentucky State Police, the Commonwealth's efforts focused largely on Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and McCracken County.
Authorities provided few details on the actual sting operation itself and who was targeted, adding only that 21 people were rescued.
"Unfortunately, this crime is occurring in every county, in every community across the commonwealth, but we will keep fighting to make life better and safer for all Kentuckians, especially our children,” Beshear said.
Most of the 46 individuals arrested in Kentucky's operation are from the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, according to arrest reports.
“This sends a message to human traffickers across the country that their actions will not be tolerated. We will be vigilant in finding those who prey upon our most vulnerable, especially our children," a statement from Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. reads in part.
Those arrested include: Keith Clapp, 50, Dearborn County; Jason Crider, 38, Kenton County; Guzman Baudilio, 40, Hamilton County; Marshall Payne, 35, Hamilton County; Christopher Christman, 47, Hamilton County; Ellahzar Henson, 39, Campbell County; Douglas Whittamore, 51, Grant County; Michael Rolfsen, 61, Hamilton County; Moulay Driss, 26, Kenton County; Michael Winn, 37, Pinellas County, Florida; Scott Weiskittel, 52, Kenton County; Charles Williams, 30, Hamilton County; Paris Lee, 20, Hamilton County; Christopher Turner, 37, Boone County; Joseph Odle, 42, Boone County; Brandon Kilby, 36, Boone County; Amir Shemony, 39, Hamilton County; Mitchell Kiskaden, 33, Boone County; Shakhzod Khosonov, 20, Hamilton County; Julian Morgan, 45, Hamilton County; Jacob Smith, 28, Kenton County; David Evans, 42, Hamilton County; Brandy Kason, 34, Hamilton County; Tyler Caldwell, 23, Hamilton County; Milique Bartholow, 25, Hamilton County; Timur Baltabaev, 25, Kenton County; Mark Hardy, 35, Boone County; Kevin Adams, 33, Hamilton County; James Yannekis, 37, Montgomery County; Sheroz Tursunov, 35, Butler County; James Mendell, 50, Boone County; Travis Baker, 40, Adams County; Michael Petras, 63, Boone County; William Remke, 65, Kenton County; Zachary Brogan, 35, Switzerland County; Ryan Goens, 40, Hamilton County; Jason Meyer, 45, Kenton County; Abraham Kuranga, 39, Hamilton County; Christopher Terry, 45, Clay County, Mississippi; Noah McCoy, 21, Solano County, California; Dustin Tapp, 33, Boone County; and Paul Baurichter, 31, Clermont County.
Kentucky's sting resulted in more arrests than any other agency participating.
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