Feds indict man nabbed by Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force

A mechanic from the Akron area now faces a federal charge after being arrested in an undercover sting conducted by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

A federal grand jury has handed up an indictment charging 33-year-old Jeremiah Torrence of Barberton with coercion and enticement.

Charges filed against Torrence in Mahoning County Court following his arrest in August were dismissed after the federal indictment was issued.

An affidavit filed in U.S. District Court highlights the text messages exchanged between Torrence and a task force undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old girl over the social media application known as “Whisper”.

According to the undercover agent, Torrence suggested becoming “friends with benefits” and proposed meetings for a sexual encounter.

The affidavit states that Torrence asked for nude pictures and video and sent the undercover agent a photo of his genitals and a video of him performing a sex act on himself.

The agent says after Torrence agreed to drive 54 miles to meet and was arrested at a location not disclosed in the affidavit.  Torrence purchased two condoms before the meeting, according to the document.

Torrence pleaded not guilty to the federal charge during a video arraignment before a federal judge on Tuesday.

The judge ordered that Torrence remain in the Mahoning County Jail where he has been since his arrest in August.

Torrence was one of seventeen human trafficking suspects arrested during an undercover operation conducted this past summer in Mahoning, Columbiana counties.

The effort was part of a statewide crackdown on human trafficking resulted in 56 arrests.