An Avon Lake woman has pleaded guilty to forcing four women, including two teens, to have sex for money and selling heroin, federal prosecutors said.
Ashley Onysko, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and drug trafficking in a deal that will see her sentenced on January 14, 2014.
According to prosecutors, Onysko and her co-defendant, Jeremy Mack, 37, of Elyria, conspired to provide heroin to four victims, including two teens, between December 2012 and April 9, 2013. The victims were then forced to engage in commercial sex acts to repay their drug debts.
Mack and Onysko used a user account on backpage.com to post photographs of the victims, which were used to lure in clients, prosecutors alleged. The victims were told that they needed to engage in commercial sex acts to repay their debts, with Onysko and Mack collecting all the proceeds.
“This woman helped force teens to have sex for money,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “These activities happen all around us and it’s the responsibility of the community and law enforcement to work together to end these crimes.”
“The defendants in this case used narcotics to gain control over their victims and forced them to engage in sex acts while lining their own pockets with money,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will utilize all necessary resources to bring to justice those that victimize our youth.”
Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitely praised the cooperation between local and federal law enforcement that led to Onysko’s guilty plea.
Onysko’s co-defendant, Jeremy Mack, is still awaiting trial. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Carole Skutnik following an investigation by the FBI and Elyria Police Department.
RELATED: Mack & Onysko Indicted: Forced Sex for Profit
Related Federal Cases
- Avon Lake Woman Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking & Drug Charges · Ohio
- Ohio Man Sentenced for Heroin Distribution in W.Va. · West Virginia
- Cleveland’s McClain Sentenced to Decade for Heroin Ring · West Virginia
- Six Cleveland Men Indicted in Heroin Ring · Ohio
- Heroin Smuggling Ring Busted in Ohio; 55 Indicted · Ohio
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News