WARREN — As the Mahoning Valley grapples with its status as a human-trafficking hotspot, a powerful coalition of survivors, state officials and advocates will confront the crisis at a community forum 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2860 E. Market St.

The event comes amid local human trafficking cases, including a recent 83-count indictment involving Warren massage parlors where women were allegedly imprisoned to engage in sex trafficking.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost condemned the Mahoning Valley’s human trafficking crisis in a news release earlier this week, announcing the indictment of eight individuals for operating a human trafficking ring at Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa in Warren. In the release, Yost stated, “There is no humanity — only depravity — in holding a person against their will to profit from their suffering,” highlighting the severity of the trafficking activities in the Mahoning Valley.

The indictment, part of “Operation Saving Daylight,” exposed a five-year operation in which Korean women were allegedly confined and forced into prostitution, with authorities seizing significant cash and records tied to sex trafficking and money laundering. Trumbull County has grappled with a number of recent child pornography cases.

According to a Jan. 23, 2024, interview with Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman, Trumbull County had 20 to 25 active child pornography cases at any given time, often linked to broader human-trafficking investigations.

Mahoning County has seen notable enforcement actions, such as 34 arrests in a 2021 sting targeting predators seeking underage victims, but Trumbull’s recent cases highlight its role as a trafficking epicenter.

The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaborative effort involving local sheriff’s offices and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, has been a factor in addressing the crisis, with 132 arrests in a 2024 statewide sting and 160 in 2023, including Trumbull County residents. One was a Masury man charged for attempting to buy sex. Yet, challenges persist, particularly in Trumbull County, where the absence of local safe houses — none exist north of Columbus — forces survivors to rely on distant resources.

The non-profit FreeThree, serving Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties, reports assisting more than 1,000 victims of sexual exploitation, underscoring the region’s pervasive trafficking problem.

The Thursday forum will feature firsthand accounts from survivor-advocate Brittany Oldfield, along with insights from experts like Youngstown State University’s Susan D. Laird and ORRIN founder Stacey Altiere. State and local leaders will discuss policy solutions and community response strategies, addressing critical topics such as recognizing trafficking situations, debunking myths that endanger victims and actionable steps for community members.

“We want people to know how pervasive sex trafficking is in this area,” said the American Association for University Women local president Joyce Hamilton. “We need to stay informed about the facts and myths of human trafficking. Our resource fair will provide assistance.”

Attendees can explore local support organizations at the resource fair and connect with service providers during a post-event networking reception.

Organizations interested in participating should contact AAUW.TrumbullCounty@gmail.com.