Kentucky man sentenced to 13 years for sex trafficking operation

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Kentucky man was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in prison for operating a sex trafficking scheme with his son. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes member agency U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Keith A. Arrick Sr., 47, of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 13 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and members of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, including Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of HSI, Col. Paul Pride of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the sentencing handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Peter C. Economus.

The investigation by the task force found that between September 2013 and February 2014, Arrick Sr. used various hotels in the Columbus area to harbor women, including a minor female, to engage in commercial sex acts for the financial benefit of the defendant. He recruited customers through internet websites by posting photos of the women or others who resembled the women, instructing the women how much to charge for the various acts then kept a portion of the money for himself, and provided the women with illegal narcotics, including heroin. The investigation found that one victim was brought to Columbus from Kentucky. Arrick Sr. used physical violence and threats of physical violence if the victims indicated they wished to stop performing commercial sex acts.

Arrick Sr. pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion in September 2014.

Arrick Sr.’s son, Keith A. Arrick Jr., 22, of Columbus, Ohio pleaded guilty in July 2014 to sex trafficking of children. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.