On December 8, 2022, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Township Police Department conducted an investigation into Human Trafficking with the assistance of the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Stark County Metro Narcotics, North Canton Police Department, Springfield Township, and the Massillon City Prosecutor’s Office. Several men were encountered during the single-day operation. The following individuals answered an on-line advertisement offering explicit sexual services in exchange for payment. The following individuals were arrested:
Name                    Age   Last Known Residence                          Charges
Dwayne T. Murray          31              Kent, Ohio                     Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Willie A. Fountain III      46          Youngstown, Ohio            Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Michael E. Lyon              53             Dover, Ohio                   Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Ger Vang                         34             Akron, Ohio                   Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Joseph E. Sherwood        45           Medina, Ohio                   Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Shane L. Gammel           48             Canton, Ohio                  Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Drugs (F-5)
                                                                                                 Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-4)
Michael K. Hoover         39             Canton, Ohio                  Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                 Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
James P. Cooney            47            Brunswick, Ohio              Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Keith D. Larew              50               Salem, Ohio                  Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                 Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Terry R. Renner             64            Massillon, Ohio               Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                 Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Rajiv Abichandani         38            Aurora, Ohio                   Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                 Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Robert L. Kassler           50           Massillon, Ohio                Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                 Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Derek E. Rucker             60            Akron, Ohio                    Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                  Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Roger D. Hoover            61        Chagrin Falls, Ohio            Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                 Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Walter L. Martin             53             Akron, Ohio                 Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                                Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
Robert J. Yoder               49         Apple Creek, Ohio          Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                               Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
John M. Kenzie               58       Coventry Twp, Ohio         Engaging in Prostitution (M-1)
                                                                                               Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1)
This operation was a part of the ongoing efforts by the Summit County Human Trafficking Task Force to combat Human Trafficking.
