What started as a routine anti-trafficking sweep on Columbus’s north side has exploded into a major criminal case, with five people now facing a sprawling indictment that prosecutors say centers on an adult survivor with developmental disabilities.
Authorities allege the group ran a human-trafficking operation that coerced women into commercial sex and funneled the profits through a network led by Derrick Christopher Soto. A Delaware County grand jury hit the five with nearly 30 felony counts, including promoting prostitution and money laundering.
According to a press release from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force launched the investigation after encountering a survivor during “Operation Next Door” in September 2025. The case moved behind closed doors to a Delaware County grand jury, which returned the indictment on May 28, 2026. The office said the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office is now responsible for prosecuting the case.
Investigators say Soto and his associates used a mix of false promises and narcotics to push women into commercial sex, while co-defendants allegedly handled online ads and drove victims to meet buyers, according to reporting by 10TV. Those claims remain allegations that have not yet been tested in court.
Indictment details
The Delaware County indictment names five defendants and spells out the charges against each:
- Derrick Christopher Soto, 36, faces one first-degree felony count for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, six fourth-degree felony counts of promoting prostitution, and four third-degree felony counts of money laundering.
- Jacob Andrew Williston, 23, faces one first-degree felony, two fourth-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony.
- Johnnie Jo Nathan Barringer, 42, faces one first-degree felony, two fourth-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony.
- Nikki Ann Brletic, 29, faces one first-degree felony, two fourth-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony.
- Jayla Marie James, 27, faces one first-degree felony, two fourth-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony.
The indictment was filed in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Custody and next steps
Four of the five defendants are already in handcuffs. Local coverage reports that Soto, Williston, Brletic, and James were taken into custody, while Barringer remains at large, and that investigators are continuing to build their case, according to 10TV.
The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office will now steer the case through arraignments and pretrial hearings. All five defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted in court.
Context
The bust fits into a wider statewide crackdown. Prosecutors and task force officials across Ohio have ramped up coordinated anti-trafficking operations in recent years, and large multi-agency sweeps have led to hundreds of arrests and survivor referrals. Prior efforts such as “Operation Next Door” and the more recent “Operation Spring Cleaning” underscore a sustained enforcement push in central Ohio, according to reporting by Richland Source.
How to report tips
Authorities say anyone who suspects human trafficking in Ohio can call 844-END-OHHT, text “ENDOHHT” to 847411, or send information through the END OHHT app and online portal. Local police departments also accept tips and can relay potential trafficking leads to the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
Legal implications
The indictment stacks first-, third-, and fourth-degree felony charges under Ohio law, which carry substantial prison time and other penalties if the defendants are convicted. For now, the case heads into the painstaking legal process, where defense attorneys can challenge every piece of evidence and prosecutors must prove each allegation beyond a reasonable doubt.
