An indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in Nashville said that one of the goals of the gangs was to recruit females under age 18, including some under age 14, and force them into prostitution in exchange for cash, drugs or other items.
The indictment said that the sex ring operated in Minneapolis, Nashville, and Columbus.
At least one Columbus man was among those indicted, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.
Abdifatah Bashir Jama was among those indicted. Jama goes by the street names "Cash Money" and "Ohio."
Columbus court records showed that Jama's last known address is an Eastview Court apartment on the west side.
The indictment outlines several instances of prostitution. In one case in 2005, a girl under age 14 was transported from Minneapolis to Columbus and Nashville for sex. In other cases, the girls were forced to engage in sex acts in hotel rooms, men's bathrooms and other locations.
"Specifically, the indictment alleges that Jane Doe 1 was brought to Nashville in or about December 2005, where she, along with other underage girls, was prostituted for approximately two weeks," said U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin. "At the time, Jane Doe 1 was less than 14-years-old.
A federal grand jury found the alleged traffickers operated out of three alleged gangs; the Somali Outlaws, the Somali Mafia and the Lady Outlaws, all based out of Minneapolis, Mallett reported.
A spokesman from the Somali Community Association said as far as he knows, no young girls from central Ohio were among those involved, but said the group will continue to look into the matter.
