ASHLAND, Ohio — In a grim case of human trafficking and abuse, Jessica L. Hunt, 32, from Ashland, was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for holding a disabled woman and her child against their will and forcing the victim into manual labor.
Hunt’s co-conspirator, Jordie L. Callahan, 28, was also sentenced to 30 years by U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson following their convictions on conspiracy charges and forced labor-related crimes.
The trio, along with Daniel J. Brown, 35, and Dezerah L. McGuire (formerly Silsby), 33, targeted a woman identified as S.E. and her child, B.E., subjecting them to years of degradation and violence. The abuse included physical assaults, sexual threats, and forced ingestion of dog food.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach, emphasized the severity of labor trafficking cases: ‘People need to understand that exploiting vulnerable people for their own greed will lead them to a jail cell.’
Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony echoed these sentiments, saying, ‘Today’s sentence is justice served for subjecting two others to years of inhumane treatment.’ McGuire and Brown were also sentenced earlier this week.
The conspiracy took place between 2010 and 2012, with the goal of holding S.E. in forced labor and obtaining her prescription pain medication. The Ashland women’s tactics included threats with firearms, sexual assault, and the use of pets to intimidate their victims.
RELATED: Ashland Man Gets 5 Years for Labor Trafficking
Related Federal Cases
- Ashland Man Admits Role in Brutal Labor Trafficking · Ohio
- Ashland trio faces human trafficking charges · Ohio
- Silk Road Vendor Handel Admits to Nationwide Drug Trafficking · Maryland
- Amber Ginter Faces Human Trafficking Charges · Michigan
- Avon Lake Woman Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking & Drug Charges · Ohio
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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