(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Five suspected members of a criminal enterprise that allegedly trafficked women for commercial sex have been indicted on a combined 27 felony counts, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which is organized under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and led by the Columbus Division of Police, began investigating the group after encountering a survivor in September 2025 during Operation Next Door, a statewide human trafficking sweep.
The survivor, an adult with developmental disabilities, traveled to the sting location with a suspected trafficker. The task force seized evidence and opened its investigation. Investigators have since learned that the organization was allegedly led by Derrick Soto and operated in north Columbus.
Soto is suspected of using false promises and narcotics to coerce women into performing sex acts for his own profit. Soto’s co-defendants purportedly advertised sex encounters online and drove women to meet buyers.
The indictment, filed in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, names five defendants:
- Derrick Christopher Soto, 36, of Columbus:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Six counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
- Four counts of money laundering (F3)
- Jacob Andrew Williston, 23, of Columbus:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
- One count of money laundering (F3)
- Johnnie Jo Nathan Barringer, 42, of Toledo:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
- One count of money laundering (F3)
- Nikki Ann Brletic, 29, of Columbus:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
- One count of money laundering (F3)
- Jayla Marie James, 27, of Columbus:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
- Two counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
- One count of money laundering (F3)
The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are criminal allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.
The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force consists of representatives from the Columbus Division of Police, Dublin Police Department, FBI, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Grove City Police Department, Hilliard Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Marysville Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Salvation Army and Southeast Healthcare.
To report suspected human trafficking in Ohio:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Steve Irwin: 614-728-5417
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