KCSO & FBI Child Exploitation Sting Nets Six Men
KENT COUNTY, Mich: The Kent County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s West Michigan-Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX), conducted a joint undercover operation last week to identify individuals involved in the online exploitation of minors. Several undercover detectives and agents placed ads on social media platforms and applications as minors, resulting in contact with multiple men. These men started communicating electronically sending and requesting sexually explicit photos and videos along with two of the men driving to meet up for sex. In total, four suspects from Michigan were arrested and two more suspects are expected to be arrested pending further investigation, one being from Indiana.
This joint operation between the Kent County Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI's WEBCHEX Task Force was made possible by the teamwork of detectives and many FBI agents behind the scenes. Outcomes from undercover operations like these likely cause concern for the Kent County community due to the graphic nature and audacity of the suspects involved. The KCSO is committed to continuing the fight against human sex and labor trafficking and the exploitation of children as we partner with our local, state, and federal partners to make this happen.
"The FBI is fully committed to disrupting and preventing the exploitation of minors, and our collaboration with the Kent County Sheriff's Office underscores the critical, life-saving efforts our agencies undertake every day," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "Our state has no tolerance for trafficking and, with our partners, we will continue to identify and investigate these criminals for threatening our most vulnerable population."
All suspects arrested will have the following charges:
- Child Sexually Abusive Activity (20-Year Felony)
- Accosting a Minor (4-Year Felony)
- Using a Computer to Communicate with Another to Commit a Crime (15 years to life)
Suspects Arrested & Arraigned in 63rd District Court:
- 40-year-old Comstock Park man - Justin Hastings
- 36-year-old East Grand Rapids man - Samuel Durham
- 66-year-old Wyoming man - Thomas Ramsey
- 40-year-old Colon, MI man - Jason Burgess
If you know someone who is being exploited or trafficked, contact the Kent County Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Task Force at 616.632.6125 or email tips to HTTF@kentcountymi.gov. If the need is immediate or an emergency, always call 911.
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