A man from Euclid, Ohio, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor and coercion and enticement of an adult female for commercial sex. The sentencing took place in Pittsburgh on August 18, 2025, with United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV presiding over the case.
Donte Lashawn Cole received a sentence of 150 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release. He is also required to register as a convicted sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Court records show that Cole transported a minor from Ohio to Monroeville, Pennsylvania, in May 2023 for commercial sex acts. He also coerced an adult woman across state lines for similar purposes. Between April and October 2023, Cole used online advertisements to market both victims for commercial sex services in Western Pennsylvania and other locations.
Before delivering the sentence, Judge Stickman described Cole’s actions as “evil” and said that he “victimized minor girls, crossed state lines, and treated the girls like property for (his) own gain.”
Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti stated: “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to stand against human trafficking and the exploitation of children and hold sex traffickers such as Donte Cole accountable. We will remain vigilant in ensuring that anyone seeking to profit through the exploitation of any child or adult is identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia commented: “Human traffickers such as Donte Cole prey on the vulnerable, inflicting unimaginable suffering and robbing victims of their dignity and freedom. This case spotlights the depravity of those who exploit others for profit. Homeland Security Investigations will never stop working to ensure these predators are held accountable. We remain relentless in our mission to rescue victims, dismantle trafficking operations, and bring justice to those who have endured such horrific abuse.”
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday added: “This predatory trafficker was calculated in how he selected his victims, choosing vulnerable individuals who he then manipulated into situations where their livelihood depended on being at his beck and call. Human trafficking is dehumanizing—some of the most egregious conduct we encounter in society. I commend our federal partners for collaborating to reach a resolution that ensures Donte Cole will be far away, for many years, from anyone else he can exploit, manipulate, and abuse.”
Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schupansky and Special Assistant United States Attorney Summer Carroll prosecuted the case.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations together with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating efforts among federal prosecutors' offices along with state and local agencies (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Victims or individuals with information about human trafficking are encouraged to contact law enforcement or reach out anonymously via phone or online tip submission through resources like the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking), which operates nationwide hotlines around-the-clock.
