WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | NW Ohio prostitution ring busted as part of nationwide effort
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TOLEDO (WTOL) - Federal agents say seven underage girls have been rescued from prostitution in the Northwest Ohio area, a result of a nationwide bust that took place last week.
Seven migrant workers who were in the states illegally were also arrested for abusing the girls on a nightly basis, agents say.
More underage prostitutes were found in the Toledo area than in cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. In fact, Toledo had more underage prostitutes in the ring than did 34 other cities.
"Some are walking the streets right here in Toledo. Others are working out of truck stops," said FBI Special Agent David Dustin. "Children as young as 10 and 13 were involved in that situation out there (Fulton County)." Prostitutes were located in Delta and Fayette.
"Basically, it's the harvest season and there are a lot of migrant farm workers in the area," Dustin said.
Agents say the girls' pimps would take them to where migrant farmers were working and stay to collect the money. One mother even served as her 13-year-old daughter's pimp.
"It's always bad when someone is abusing a child and forcing them into this activity but when it's a parent, it's particularly bad," Dustin said.
Agents also found a 10-year-old they say was being groomed for the industry by being around it and getting comfortable with it. They say most of the girls were also abusing drugs.
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