COUPLE INDICTED FOR LURING VICTIMS INTO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION

Posted on 10/18/2019

Defendant: Kevin Kishaun Martin and Lyndzy Michelle Donovan

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien stated, “This couple recruited and exploited vulnerable women on the streets to work for them as prostitutes in order to personally benefit financially.” Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Kevin Kishaun Martin, age 46, and his girlfriend Lyndzy Michelle Donovan, age 35, for two counts of Trafficking in Persons, two counts of Compelling Prostitution, three counts of Promoting Prostitution, one count of Kidnapping, one count of Felonious Assault, and Kevin Martin for drug and gun charges, for a total of 12 counts in connection to on-going abusive relationships involving three adult female victims.  The indictment alleges that the Human Trafficking and Compelling Prostitution/Drug Possession counts in the indictment involving multiple victims occurred over the time span of October, 2018 through August, 2019. The offenses occurred at the couple’s home located at 2524 Azelda Street in the North Linden area and at various hotels in central Ohio.  It is alleged that the couple would prey upon females on the street promising them a better life, lure them into their home or a hotel where they provided the females with drugs, and then demanded that they work the streets to pay back their debt.  Some of the victims were assaulted if they did not comply with the demands of the couple.  O’Brien commended the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Columbus Police for their thorough and continuing investigation of this case.  “If convicted on these charges, both defendants face a potential sentence in excess of 50 year’s incarceration,” O’Brien stated.  Arraignment for both defendants is set for next Wednesday, October 23^rd, 2019 at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B, at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.