Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minor and Coercion of Adult

Donte Lashawn Cole faces sentencing in August after admitting to transporting victims across state lines and exploiting them through online platforms.

• Donte Lashawn Cole, a 40-year-old from Euclid, Ohio, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor and coercing an adult into commercial sex.
• Cole transported the victims from Ohio to a hotel in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, where they were forced into commercial sex acts.
• He used online advertisements between April and October 2023 to market the victims for sex trafficking in Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
• Investigators found evidence in the hotel rooms, including condoms, cleaning supplies, and minimal clothing belonging to the victims.
• Sentencing is scheduled for August 18, 2025, with Cole facing 10 years to life in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

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