Three nabbed in sex sting sent to prison

12-20-2009 Michigan: Phase-I

Three men snared in an undercover sting targeting men who wanted to have sex with a minor were each sentenced to prison time Thursday.

Grand Rapids resident Timothy John Fitzhugh and Flint resident Robert Joseph Smith were both sentenced to one year to 20 years in prison while Michael Krauss, from Monroe County's LaSalle Township, was given 16 months to 20 years.

Fitzhugh, 47, earlier pleaded guilty to child sexual abusive commercial activity in exchange for prosecutor's dismissing a count of using a computer to commit that crime. Smith, 25, and Krauss, 49, each entered a plea to using a computer to commit the crime of child sexual abusive commercial activity.

Fitzhugh apologized for the "pain and heartache" he inflicted on his family due to his actions and asked for their forgiveness.

Krauss admitted what he did "was wrong" and he said he "takes full responsibility" for his actions.

The defendants were among nine men arrested in a sting that was the combined effort of Attorney General Mike Cox's office, the Livingston County Sheriff's Department and Perverted Justice, the latter of which has been involved in televised stings on "To Catch a Predator" with "Dateline NBC" and MSNBC.

At their earlier plea hearings, the men admitted to using the Internet to communicate with someone they thought was a teenager and agreeing to meet those "teens" for sex.

However, when the men came to a home in Oceola Township, east of Howell, they found armed officers waiting. Some of the nine were arrested when they entered the decoy house while others were arrested at the parking lot of a nearby fast-food restaurant, police said.

The investigation began months ago and culminated in the three-day sting, which occurred between noon Aug. 14 and 9 a.m. Aug. 16. ..Source.. Lisa Roose-Church • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS