Crime & Safety

Avon Lake Woman Charged in Human Trafficking

Jeremy Mack of Elyria and Ashley Onysko, 23, of Avon Lake charged.

The FBI charged two people today, including a woman from Avon Lake, with human trafficking.

Jeremy Mack, 37, of Elyria, and Ashley Onysko, of Avon Lake, who turned 23 today, were charged May 10 with two counts of sex trafficking (one involving a minor) in a criminal complaint unsealed today in U.S. District Court.

The pair was charge after forcing a 16-year-old girl and 19-year-old woman to have sex for money, Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office, and Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said.

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“Human trafficking often happens in plain sight,” Anthony said. “The FBI, our law enforcement partners, along with the assistance of vigilant citizens will continue efforts to tackle this problem.”

Dettelbach said the victims will receive assistance.

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“These defendants are accused of preying on teens in our community,” Dettelbach said. “We will work to get help for the victims and bring the accused to justice.”

Mack and Onysko were arrested April 9 at 8 Tattersal Court in Elyria. Onysko told investigators that she worked for Mack facilitating meetings for sex between girls and men. She posted advertisements on backpage.com and craigslist.com, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Onysko will have a detention hearing Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m.; Mack’s will be May 16 at 3:30 p.m.

Our media partners at NewsNet5 reported in April that Onysko was charged with possession of heroin, permitting of drug abuse, promoting prostitution and compelling prostitution in Lorain County Court. Toby Lewis was also charge with the pair in April of possession of crack cocaine, trafficking in crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

One victim, identified as “Jane Doe #1” was 19 and was forced to have sex for money in order to pay off a drug debt to Mack. Jane Doe #1 said several girls lived at 8 Tattersal Court and were forced by Mack to prostitute themselves in order to pay off their drug debts to him, according to the affidavit.

Victim Afraid Mack would “beat the living crap out of me”

Jane Doe #1 began seeing several men a day and charged to engage in sexual acts with them. Mack or Onysko drove Jane Doe #1 to the appointments but she had to turn all the money over directly to Mack, according to the affidavit.

Jane Doe #1 stated that if she kept any money, she believed Mack would “beat the living crap out of me.” She witnessed him push, hit and choke other girls and said Mack often carried a handgun and stun gun, according to the affidavit.

Another victim, identified as Jane Doe #2, met Mack through Mack’s son in March 2013. Jane Doe #2 noticed that the other girls were afraid of Mack and didn’t seem allowed to leave the house except to meet clients, according to the affidavit.

On March 29, 2013, Mack instructed Jane Doe #2 to get fixed up and instructed other girls to take photos of her for backpage.com. Jane Doe #2 said she didn’t want to be a prostitute but did so because Mack was “a guy with a gun who knew where I lived,” according to the affidavit.

Onysko soon received a call for an appointment with Jane Doe #2. Onysko arranged the meeting and provided Jane Doe #2 with condoms. She gave all the money to Mack. Jane Doe #2 left the house on Tattersal after her parents discovered her photographs on backpage.com, according to the affidavit.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Carole Skutnik following an investigation by the FBI and Elyria Police Department.


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