Robert Lutman and Johnny Wilson Jr. arrested in weekend sex sting operation in Salem, Ohio: MVHTTF

SALEM, Ohio (WKBN) – The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force had its hands full this weekend, conducting two sex sting operations that resulted in arrests.

The aim of the raids is to target people who want to buy sex online. In both cases, an undercover task force agent posted an ad on a well-known website used to recruit prostitutes.

The MVHTTF was supported by the Salem Police Department.

Saturday Sting

On Saturday, the MVHTTF arrested 48-year-old Robert Lutman of Leetonia. A press release from the task force states that Lutman responded to Salem Super Cruise’s ad and demanded three sex acts. He agreed to pay $80 and bring the woman a lemon shake in return.

Lutman reportedly arranged for his son to drive him to the prearranged meeting point in Salem, where he was taken into custody. He was transported and booked into the Columbiana County Jail on charges of prostitution and possession of criminal tools.

Lutman’s criminal past includes charges of criminal damage, trespassing, persistent disturbance, drug possession, prostitution and possession of criminal tools, the task force reports.

He was previously convicted of prostitution and possession of criminal tools in 2022 in Columbiana County Municipal Court as a result of an MVHTTF investigation conducted in East Palestine.

Sunday stitch

On Sunday, Johnny Wilson Jr., 30, of Opelousas, Louisiana, responded to an ad posted by the Salem Super Cruise operator and demanded two sex acts. He agreed to pay $80 and bring the woman a lemon shake as a reward, according to a press release from the task force.

Wilson drove his employer’s semi-trailer to the agreed meeting point in Salem, where he was taken into custody.

His Social Security number was linked to a warrant issued by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas for murder, state news releases said. Authorities determined that Wilson’s father had used his son’s Social Security number last year to claim his son’s tax return and allegedly commit murder.

Wilson was booked into the Columbiana County Jail on charges of prostitution and possession of criminal instruments.