Woman Indicted in Human Trafficking Ring Worked at Pickerington Central

January 10, 2023
By Rachel Scofield

A Columbus woman allegedly involved in a human trafficking ring was monitoring study halls at Pickerington High School Central until she retired for undisclosed reasons last October.

On December 27, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Tyler Leianne Payne, age 29, with four felony charges including engaging in corrupt activity and money laundering.

From the 2022-23 Pickerington High School Central Yearbook

An investigation by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force led to the arrest of Payne along with five others. Together the group was indicted on a combined 124 felony charges.  Charges brought against her conspirators included murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, compelling prostitution and trafficking in persons.

The task force, formed under the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission, conducted the investigation as part of its ongoing mission to eradicate human trafficking.

“Busts like this free victims from the clutches of trafficking and rid our streets of dangerous criminals,” Attorney General Dave Yost said. “These successful investigations propel us closer to a future in which no human beings are bought or sold in Ohio.”

Payne grew up in Pickerington and attended Central.

   

Employment records at Pickerington Schools indicate that Payne was hired as a duty aide in August 2022.

Per Pickerington Schools Human Resources Director Scott Philabaum, a criminal background check is required of each person recommended for employment in the district and after employment on a periodic basis, including full-time employees, part-time employees, substitutes, coaches, and activity supervisors.

“Pickerington Schools conducted a BCI and FBI criminal background check on Ms. Payne prior to her beginning work with the district in September 0f 2022,” Philabaum said. “Her records show no arrests or convictions, nor were we informed of any during her employment from September 2022-October 2023.”

The others indicted include:

  • James Antwan Dukes-Johnson, 28, of Columbus: 39 felony charges, including aggravated murder, murder, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in persons, compelling prostitution, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and felonious assault.
  • Michael Anthony Davis, 21, of Columbus: 38 felony charges, including aggravated murder, murder, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in persons, compelling prostitution, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and felonious assault.
  • Sarah Rose Dotson, 33, of Columbus: 29 felony charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in persons, compelling prostitution and possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
  • Shahee Siler, 38, of Columbus: 10 felony charges, including aggravated murder, murder, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, promoting prostitution and felonious assault.
  • Alexias Monay Lashel Carr-Johnson, 28, of Marysville: Four felony charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and money laundering.
  • Tyler Leianne Payne, 29, of Columbus: Four felony charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and money laundering.

The Attorney General’s office has provided no further details at this time.

 

 

Anyone with information about the alleged criminal activity or knowledge of additional victims of human trafficking is encouraged to contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6336) or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-3737-888 and ask to speak to a member of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. 

The task force consists of representatives from the Columbus Division of Police, BCI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, the Powell Police Department, the Ohio State University Police Department, the Marysville Police Department, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Southeast Healthcare and the Salvation Army.

Indictments are criminal allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.