Leader of Columbus human trafficking ring gets 14 years

Carmon and his two codefendants, leading to a grand jury indictment in 2020. The accused ringleader According to Yost’s office, of a Columbus human traf- Carmon manipulated ficking ring that investiga- women into prostitution tors allege used vulnerable with drugs, threats and viowomen battling addiction for lence for his financial gain. prostitution has been sen“Traffickers and their evil tenced to 14 years in prison. ways of manipulation have

Marcus J. Carmon, 40, of no place in a civilized sociColumbus’ Near East Side, ety,” Yost said. “Removing pleaded guilty in November them from our communito compelling prostitution, ties keeps everyone safer having a weapon illegally and clears a path for surviand possession of cocaine. vors to reach the Highway

Carmon attempted to to Hope.” withdraw his guilty plea Bradley Powell, 31, of the earlier this month, assert- city’s Northeast Side, previing in a motion through his ously pleaded guilty to proattorney that he is innocent. moting prostitution. Lynch

But Franklin County Com- sentenced him in 2022 to mon Pleas Court Judge Julie 708 days in prison, but he Lynch denied his request received full credit for the to change his plea and sen- 708 days he spent in jail. tenced him Tuesday to 14 The third man indicted, years in prison. Carmon 50-year-old Anthony Dunn, also will have to register as of the city’s Short North, a Tier II sex offender after pleaded guilty to two counts he leaves prison. of promoting prostitution in

Ohio Attorney Gen- 2020 and is awaiting seneral Dave Yost on Friday tencing. He could get up to touted the Central Ohio three years in prison and will Human Trafficking Task have to register as a Tier I Force, which is led out of sex offender. his office, that investigated

‘Traffickers and their evil ways of manipulation have no place in a civilized society. Removing them from our communities keeps everyone safer and clears a path for survivors to reach the Highway to Hope.’