RICO INDICTMENT FILED ON THREE ADULTS FOR LURING VICTIMS INTO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION

Posted on 8/25/2020

Defendant: Marcus Jahroam Carmon, Anthony Lamont Dunn, and Bradley C. Powell

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “Our office will continue to coordinate efforts with other agencies to rescue victims who are forced or coerced into human trafficking, and we will hold those traffickers accountable for exploiting these victims for their own financial gain.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a 23 count RICO indictment against three Columbus men, Marcus Jahroam Carmon, age 36, Anthony Lamont Dunn, age 46, and Bradley C. Powell, age 28.  Carmon, the ring leader of the enterprise, was indicted on all 23 counts including:
 
Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
Trafficking in Persons – Commercial Sex Acts with Specification
Compelling Prostitution
Promoting Prostitution
Felonious Assault with Specification
Having Weapons While Under Disability
Possession of Cocaine
Trafficking in Cocaine
Aggravated Possession of Drugs, Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound
Illegal Conveyance of Drugs of Abuse onto Grounds of a Specified Governmental Facility
 
“Carmon’s Repeat Violent Offender Specification and WUD count are based on a prior felony Robbery conviction in Franklin County from 2009,” O’Brien stated.  Dunn was indicted on 3 of the 23 counts in the indictment and Powell was indicted on 5 of the 23 counts.  The indictment alleges that the Human Trafficking and Prostitution counts in the indictment involved 7 victims between the time span of November 8, 2018 through February 6, 2020.  “All of the females were expected to post ads on sex/escort sites to attract clients.  The defendants primarily targeted and recruited females to work for them that were vulnerable and homeless in order to personally benefit financially,” O’Brien further stated. O’Brien commended the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force for their thorough investigation of this case.   Arraignment for all three defendants should be scheduled for later this week.