Women recruit girls for Ohio sex trade, report says

CINCINNATI – A new report paints a vivid picture of the shadowy world of sex trafficking in Ohio, from its recruiters and groomers to its customers and pimps.

The report released Wednesday by the state Human Trafficking Commission is based on interviews with 328 victims in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo.

Of those interviewed, 115 reported that they were forced into the trade when they were under 18, with 12 percent of them sold before they were 12.

The report says that the vast majority of the girls forced into prostitution reported that they were recruited by women who were involved in the trade themselves or who at first acted like a friend.

The report says that adults manipulated into the trade were more likely to be recruited by men.