TWO MEN SENTENCED TO TEN AND THIRTEEN YEARS FOR LURING VICTIMS INTO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION RING

Posted on 4/19/2019

Defendant: Curtis Deshane Gossett and Jeffery Martin Bagley

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This enterprise recruited females addicted to heroin, particularly when they were homeless, offered them a warm place to live and a daily supply of heroin, in exchange for money they made from prostitution activities.  They managed and controlled a prostitution operation involving several locations and multiple female victims in order to personally benefit financially.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that ring-leader Curtis Deshane Gossett, age 60, and his associate Jeffery Martin Bagley, age 38, were sentenced to 13 and 10 years in prison respectively for the human trafficking and prostitution activity that occurred between the time span of May 1, 2015 through May 31, 2017.  Both men were also classified as Tier II Sex Offenders and will be required to register with the County Sheriff every 180 days for a period of 25 years.  “Not only will our office continue to coordinate efforts with other agencies within the law enforcement system to rescue victims who are forced or coerced into human trafficking, but we will also hold traffickers accountable for exploiting these victims,” O’Brien stated.  O’Brien commended the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Columbus Police for their thorough investigation of this case.