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
December 20, 2009
Three nabbed in sex sting sent to prison
September 25, 2009
MI- Six nabbed in sex sting send charges to trial
9-10-2009 Michigan Phase-I:
Six of the nine men snared in an undercover sting, targeting men who wanted sex with a minor, waived a preliminary exam Wednesday, sending their cases to trial.
Two defendants — ____, 53, of Detroit, and _____, 47, of Grand Rapids — already waived the hearing. They will appear Sept. 25 in Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing.
Another defendant, ____, is undergoing a mental exam to determine if he is competent to stand trial. Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox's office also added a third charge against the 40-year-old Clawson man of using the Internet to communicate with another to commit a crime for allegedly sending sexually explicit photographs to a person he thought was a minor.
The sting was the combined effort of 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.
Officials with the attorney general's office said as many as 150 people communicated with the decoys from Perverted Justice through various online communications, including Craigslist and instant messaging.
A spokesman with the attorney general's office said charges will be pursued against the people who engaged in the illegal chat, but who did not come to the house.
The nine defendants were the ones who came to a home in Oceola Township, east of Howell, where armed officers were waiting. Some of the defendants 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.
The defendants who waived their preliminary exam on Wednesday are:
____, 49, of LaSalle Township, who is a security guard. His attorney, Steven Dodge, renewed his request to reduce his client's bond, citing ____' diabetic needs, but Judge Theresa Brennan again denied the request.
____, 37, of Eastpointe, who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old boy at the sting. At the last minute, ____ told police that he wanted to meet at a McDonald's restaurant, which is where police arrested him in the parking lot. Police said ____ is a disc jockey but his attorney said the man also is a licensed life insurance agent.
____, 50, of Flint, who is a postal carrier. He is the only defendant free on bond.
____, 24, of Flint, a Frito-Lay employee.
____, 29, of Rochester Hills, a software designer. His lawyer also asked for a bond reduction, but Brennan denied the request.
____, 29, of Columbus, Ohio, told police that he is an Indian citizen in the United States for about a month as a software programmer. He told police that he took a cab to the decoy home after taking a bus from Columbus to Detroit.
..Source.. by Lisa Roose-Church • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
August 25, 2009
MI- Two nabbed in sex sting send charges to trial
Of the nine alleged offenders, possibly one was from the local area. That means this sting brought offenders to Howell which would not normally have come to Howell, and put the costs of prosecuting them on the shoulders of Howell taxpayers. In addition, who is paying the costs of this sting, including Perverted Justice, their decoys and months of time spent on the Internet, as well as the third party company which appears to have installed equipment for this sting? Local taxpayers?
8-25-2009 Michigan Phase-I:
The nine defendants snared in an undercover sting targeting men who wanted sex with a minor were in court Monday morning.
Two defendants — ____, 53, of Detroit and ____, 47, of Grand Rapids — waived a preliminary exam, sending their case to Circuit Court for trial. No new court dates were immediately available.
Defendant ___ will undergo a mental exam to determine if he is competent to stand trial. The attorney general's office also added a third charge against the 40-year-old Clawson man of using the Internet to communicate with another to commit a crime for allegedly sending sexually explicit photographs to a person he thought was a minor.
The remaining defendants will return to District Court in Brighton for preliminary exam or pretrial conference on Sept. 9.
The sting was the combined efforts of Michigan 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.
Officials with the attorney general's office said as many as 150 people communicated with the decoys from Perverted Justice through various online communications, including Craigslist and instant messaging.
Although I don't doubt many folks communicated with PJ decoys, as claimed here and in earlier stings, but truth be told, none were ever prosecuted in earlier stings. It is likely this is a statement to sensationalize what actually occurred.
A spokesman with the attorney general's office says charges will be pursued against the people who engaged in the illegal chat, but who did not come to the house.
The nine defendants were the ones who came to a home in Oceola Township, east of Howell, where armed officers were waiting this month. Some of the defendants 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 be-tween noon Aug. 14 and 9 a.m. Aug. 16. ..Source.. by Lisa Roose-Church • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
August 18, 2009
MI- Sex sting nabs nine
8-19-2009 Michigan Phase-I:
A retired Detroit police officer, a grocery store clerk, a security guard, and postal carrier are among the nine men jailed this weekend in an undercover sting that targeted men who wanted sex with a minor.
Each of the nine men was arraigned Monday in Livingston County District Court on 20-year felony charges of child abusive commercial activity and using a computer to commit the crime. They are being held in the county jail on $200,000 bond.
"It's obviously a serious problem; certainly troubling," Tom Cameron, chief of the attorney general's Criminal Justice Bureau, said at a Monday news conference held at the Sheriff's Department. "We believe this was a successful sting ...
"We can't arrest our way out of this problem," he added, a reference to the number of predators targeting youngsters online.
Armed Livingston County sheriff's deputies arrested the men as they came to an undisclosed Livingston County home or a local fast-food restaurant parking lot to have sex with a 14-year-old boy or girl who was actually an undercover officer.
The investigation began months ago, when the men used various online communications, including Craigslist and instant messaging, to talk with a person they thought was a child and culminated in the three-day sting, which occurred between noon Friday and 9 a.m. Sunday.
I wonder, having never been on Craigslist, is there a chatroom section for minors? If not, why would Perverted Justice be in an adult chatroom talking as a minor? DO minors visit such places placing themselves at risk? Questions abound here..
As many as 150 people communicated with the decoys from Perverted Justice, a nonprofit organization that specializes in identifying online predators.
Interesting note, today the media provided two transcripts ( #1 and #2 ) of the alleged interactions with a minor (police decoy), but those transcripts only cover the period of discussion over the weekend.
The transcripts fail to show what actually occurred in the months beforehand in discussions with Perverted-Justice (PJ) decoys. The techniques used by PJ decoys is unknown, but given discussions transpired over a significant period of time, it resulted in a trust developed to setup the final discussion with a police officer.
In another sting related news article they report that "perverted justice monitors online chat rooms and websites," there it was Craigslist "Casual Encounters." One has to wonder if the men arrested this weekend were lured -over time- from such a chat room through trust developing techniques (possibly discussing sexual issues not necessarily with minors), then setup in today's reported sting. That may very well be how they hone their techniques. Finally, one has to wonder if -absent the PJ trust developing techniques- would these men actually do what they did this weekend?
Cameron said authorities are pursing charges against those individuals who did not show up at the decoy house, and that those individuals had indicated in their chats that they wouldn't meet because of their concerns about police stings.
"Of those 150, there's a subset of 50 that have actually gone to the point of setting up a meeting, talked about sex, wanted to have sex and know the age of the child, and know what they're doing," Dennis Ker of Perverted Justice told WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit.
Cameron said one decoy posted that he was a 14-year-old boy and he received more than 100 hits from people wanting to have sex or "some relationship" with the "boy."
One of the nine arrested was _____, a 49-year-old security guard from Monroe County who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl. As police arrested him, he said, "I didn't mean to do this, guys, please!" Channel 7 reported. He said he used to be a military police officer.
_____ declined the Daily Press & Argus' request for an interview, but he told Channel 7 that despite the sexually explicit conversations, he really isn't a predator.
"I don't go out there every day stalking people, because I know better," he said. "Why I did this, I have no idea. I don't need to be a predator,"
To explain why he drove 72 miles to meet a child, _____ said: "Well, today I was coming up as an adult going to talk to a child. I wasn't going to do anything. They searched me. If I was going to do something, I would have protection on me."
Suspect _____, 47, of Grand Rapids, was arrested at an area McDonald's parking lot after coming to the county to have sex with a person he thought was a 14-year-old boy. Police said _____ had condoms, lubricant and pornographic videos when he was arrested.
In an online conversation, _____ asks the decoy "when do you turn 15?" The decoy asks how old _____ is and he replies: "I'm 47, would that be too old to get together?"
_____ also discusses taking a shower with the decoy and reassures him that he is "clean, disease free and HIV neg. (sic)."
Sheriff Bob Bezotte said he was not surprised by the diverse men arrested in the sting.
"They come from all walks of life," he said. "It's disconcerting to learn how many people engage in this activity."
Also among those arrested are:
# Retired Detroit Police Officer _____, 53, who counseled the undercover agent on how to avoid saving chat logs and threatened to kill himself if he was turned in. He was arrested at a nearby fast-food restaurant parking lot.
# _____, 40, of Clawson, who spent $110 for a cab ride to Livingston County to meet a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl named Samantha. Custer, who allegedly told the online decoy, "I wanna have sex with you," was arrested after arriving at the home on foot.
# _____, 37, of Eastpointe, who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old boy. At the last minute, _____, a disc jockey, told police that he wanted to meet at McDonald's, which is where police arrested him in the parking lot.
# _____, 29, of Columbus, Ohio, told police that he is an Indian citizen in the United States for about a month as a software programmer. He told police that he took a cab to the decoy home after taking a bus from Columbus to Detroit.
# _____, 50, of Flint, who is a postal carrier.
# _____, 24, of Flint, a Frito-Lay employee.
# _____, 29, of Rochester Hills, a software designer.
The sting was the combined efforts of Michigan attorney general's office, county Sheriff's Department and Perverted Justice.
Bezotte said state authorities previously conducted a similar sting in Western Michigan, but chose Livingston County this time because it was a central location to lure the predators. ..Source.. by Lisa Roose-Church
August 17, 2009
MI- 9 arrested in 'Net child predator sting
In last night's report there were 10 folks arrested, wonder what happened to the 10th one?
8-17-2009 Michigan Phase-I:
A Grand Rapids man is one of the suspects
LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) - Attorney General Mike Cox's office and Livingston County Sheriff Robert Bezotte Monday announced the results of an undercover Internet child predator sting that took place in Howell from August 14-16.
The sting resulted in the arrest of nine men accused of trying to engage in sexual activity after targeting who they thought were children online.
"The message for predators is loud and clear," Cox said in a statement. "We are watching. If you attempt to target a child, we will take you offline."
The men were taken into custody at or near a decoy home in the Howell area after engaging in sexually explicit Internet chats with undercover agents posing as children.
All defendants who traveled to have sex with a child were charged with child sexually abusive activity and a similar charge of using a computer to commit that offense. Both charges are felonies. Additional counts are charged if the defendant sent pornographic images to the undercover agents.
The defendants --
* _____, 47, of Grand Rapids; arrested by authorities at a fast-food restaurant parking lot while carrying condoms, lubricant and pornographic videos
* _____, 53, of Detroit; a retired City of Detroit police officer who counseled the undercover agent on how to avoid saving chat logs and threatened to kill himself if turned in. Allen was arrested at a nearby fast food restaurant parking lot
* _____, 40, of Clawson; a grocery store clerk who took a cab from Oakland County to the decoy location, later arriving at the home on foot. He was arrested outside the home
* _____, 37, of Eastpointe; a music D.J., was arrested by officers at a fast-food restaurant parking lot
* _____, 49, of La Salle; a security guard who was arrested upon entering the decoy home
* _____, 29, of Columbus, Ohio; reported that he is an Indian citizen in the United States for about a month as a software programmer. Reported that he took a cab to the decoy home after taking a bus from Columbus to Detroit
* _____, 24, of Flint
* _____, 29, of Rochester Hills
* _____, 50, of Flint
Additional arrests are likely for people who transmitted sexually explicit material but did not travel to the decoy location.
Prior to this operation, Cox's office had already arrested 236 Internet predators after creating one of the first Internet child protection units in the nation.
This number is questionable as there was only two stings in 2008. SO where did the rest come from? Likely the efforts of local agencies around the state which Cox is trying to take credit for.
The defendants were all willing to travel for sex with a child despite long distances or lack of personal transportation, with two taking taxi cabs to the location. Many of the accused predators mentioned in their online chats that they feared being caught in a sting situation and declined to come to the home, asking to meet at nearby locations instead. This change in tactics indicates that previous Attorney General stings have had an effect on predators who in the previous stings regularly and boldly entered decoy homes with the intent to abuse children.
However, Cox notes that predator chat activity online remained very active and aggressive during this operation, so parents must take the lead role in monitoring their children's Internet activities to keep them safe.
"This is a reminder for parents that the Internet is being used by predators to target our children," said Cox. "Parents must be monitoring what their kids are doing online and talk often with them about the dangers of communicating with people they don't know and trust."
Other partners in the sting operation included Perverted Justice, a non-profit organization that specializes in identifying online predators, and Investigative Mechanics, Inc., which outfitted the decoy house and neighborhood with state-of-the-art video and audio surveillance equipment. ..Source.. by WOOD TV8.com
MI- CATALLO: 10 Arrested in Sex Predator Sting
8-16-2009 Michigan Phase-I:
HOWELL, Mich. (WXYZ) - In a major Action News Exclusive, police call them predators, they drive for miles, just to have sex with children in our area, but tonight they are busted, locked up in jail after an undercover sting.
Only one reporter was allowed to be inside that sting, Action News Investigator Heather Catallo.
WATCH HEATHER'S REPORTS IN THE VIDEO (on the right)
Heather:
I’m at the Livingston County Sheriff’s dept where these accused sexual predators are now locked up. Ten men traveled from places like Monroe County, Grand Rapids, one man even hopped a bus from Ohio, all hoping to have sex with a young teenager.
Officers:
"That’s him right there!"
"I think that’s our guy."
They think they are meeting up with a young girl or young boy for sex. Instead these accused predators are greeted by armed sheriff’s deputies.
In a house wired with hidden cameras, investigators from the Michigan Attorney General's office and Livingston County Sheriff's deputies teamed up with the non-profit group Perverted Justice for a 3 day sting operation.
"We’re watching too, if he comes back online, then we’ll know that he’s playing us."
The Action News Investigators were granted exclusive access to the sting, which started Friday afternoon.
"He’s checking us out pretty hard."
.For weeks dozens of decoys from Perverted Justice have been chatting online with about 150 predators, all of them thought they were talking to a young teenage boy or girl from southeast Michigan.
Dennis Ker/Perverted Justice:
"Of those 150, there’s a subset of 50 that have actually gone to the point of setting up a meeting, talked about sex, wanted to have sex, and know the age of the child, and know what they’re doing."
Every car that rolls down the street is scrutinized.
"This is a slow roll – slow roll."
But this suspect approaches the sting house on foot.
"That’s the guy who was supposed to take a cab. He might have had the cab drop him off up the road. That’s him! That’s him!"
His screen name is Hel_Bomber, and he thinks he’s meeting up with 14-year-old Samantha. His real name is John Deleo Custer, and this 40-year-old from Clawson has already told the decoy on-line: "i wanna have sex with you."
"And he’s the guy who’s supposed to be bringing 2 videos, and he had 2 in his hand."
Custer never actually came to the door, but after checking out the webcam shot he sent the decoy – the investigators from the Attorney General’s office send in the deputies to snag him.
"Just see if you can find him."
After arresting Custer, deputies seized the 2 movies he’d brought along, as well as the receipt showing that this grocery store clerk spent $110 on cab fare to get to the sting house.
Del Harvey/Perverted Justice:
"Well, I guess he’s been pretty up front with his intent."
A very explicit late night chat on Craig’s list drums up this guy: 37-year-old Jason Jerome Lombardo.
Decoy Del Harvey prepares herself to look like the 14-year-old boy Lombardo is expecting. But at the last minute, this party DJ from Eastpointe decides he doesn’t want to meet at the house.
"He wants to meet at McDonalds. Let’s go."
The deputies arrest him in the restaurant parking lot.
Heather/On Camera:
"Jason, why did you want to do this tonight?"
So Lombardo’s 2 a.m. rendezvous will actually be in the Livingston County Jail.
Heather/On Camera:
"Why did you want to have sex with a young child?"
On Saturday afternoon a 49-year-old security guard and grandfather drives 72 miles ...
"That’s him right there!"
… from Monroe County to meet up with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
"Ok, Del, we’re off the phone with him. He’s coming out of the door!"
Del the decoy waves Michael Krauss into the house and the deputies take him down.
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Predator Sting:
"I didn’t mean to do this guys, please!
Krauss says he used to be a military police officer.
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Predator Sting:
"I didn’t touch nothing, I don’t want to be on the predators list, I’m a security officer."
Now he’s in custody, along with 29-year-old Dipankar Roy, who traveled all the way from Columbus, Ohio by bus and cab – hoping to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.
In his online chat, this software engineer told the decoy, "don’t say anything about me to ur mother becoz u r under 18."
He gets to the front door of the sting house and then gets busted.
The Attorney General's investigators also nabbed 53-year-old George William Allen.
Later the deputies arrested 47-year-old Timothy John Fitzhugh from Grand Rapids. Officials say he was caught at a nearby McDonalds hoping to have sex with a 14-year-old boy.
John Sellek:
"Our #1 goal, is to get as many people offline, and frankly into a prison cell as we can."
Heather:
All 10 men have been charged with several felonies, including child sexually abusive activity and computer crimes.
Coming up after the jump, Heather sits face-to-face with one of these accused predators. You’ll hear why he was so driven to approach a child for sex. ..Source.. by WXYZ.com
Man Arrested in Predator Sting Speaks Out
8-16-2009 Michigan:
HOWELL, Mich. (WXYZ) - More information on our Action News Exclusive, the Michigan Attorney General has nabbed 10 accused sexual predators in a major sting this weekend and Action News Investigator Heather Catallo was the only reporter allowed to have an inside look at this hi-tech operation.
WATCH HEATHER CATALLO'S REPORT IN THE VIDEO (on the right)
Heather:
You’re about to hear first hand, what was going through the mind of one of those accused predators who was arrested in this weekend’s sting.
They thought they were meeting up with young teens for sex, instead these men ended up in jail.
Investigators from the Michigan Attorney General's office, along with Livingston County Sheriff’s deputies teamed up with the non-profit group Perverted Justice for a 3 day sting operation.
Only Action News was allowed inside the sting house that was wired with hidden cameras to capture every move of the men who thought they were meeting up with underage girls and boys for sex.
"He’s coming out the door, and he’s coming to the side door."
On Saturday afternoon, deputies arrested 49-year-old Michael Krauss from LaSalle, Michigan.
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I’m not a sexual predator."
Krauss tells the deputies he used to be a military police officer – and he says he currently works as a security guard for a large insurance company in Detroit.
"I know better. Ok, why don’t you come with me for now alright?"
Krauss may say he knows better., but according to his chat log that the Action News Investigators have obtained, his requests for sex with the 14-year-old decoy girl are very explicit.
At one point, he writes "i want you to feel the pleasure a man can give you."
After Krauss is interviewed by detectives – he agrees to speak with me.
Heather:
"Do you consider yourself a predator?"
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"Um, with that email, it looks like I’m a predator. But I’m not. I don’t go out stalking people. I know better. Why I did this, I have no idea. I don’t need to be a predator."
Heather:
"Do you think you acted like one today, though?"
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I, well, today I was coming up as an adult, gonna talk to a child, I wasn’t gonna do anything. They searched me, if I was gonna do something, I would have had protection on me."
Krauss insists he drove 72 miles just to tell the girl that they could not, in fact, have sex.
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I was just gonna stop in, talk to her, and keep going to my kids house."
Heather:
"But you wouldn’t have been arrested if you hadn’t said some pretty explicit things to someone who you thought was 14."
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I know, I know. Like I said, I don’t know why I did that. I really don’t."
Heather:
"Why didn’t you stop when you knew she was 14?"
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I don’t know, I really don’t. I just wanted to see if she was real."
Heather:
"Do you think you have a problem?"
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I think I do."
Heather:
"What kind of problem?"
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"My wife hasn’t given me affection that a married couple should have in a year. And, I guess I was just looking for some companionship for a little bit."
Heather:
"But why reach out to a child?"
Mike Krauss/Arrested in Sting:
"I know, I’ve got kids of my own. I’ve raised them as a cop should, I watch out for people, and I was just stupid for that time."
Krauss and the other 10 people arrested in the sting this weekend are now charged with felony child sexually abusive activity and computer crimes. They are all facing the possibility of decades behind bars. ..Source.. by WXYZ.com
November 21, 2008
MI- Sex sting suspect took bait quickly, court told
11-21-2008 Michigan: (Phase-II)
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP -- Only hours after his first online meeting with someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy, ____ was in handcuffs at the Kent County Sheriff's Department.
___'s conversation with what turned out to be a decoy for an Internet sex predator sting likely was one of the briefest cyber relationships among 20 suspects arrested the weekend of Oct. 18.
Others busted for allegedly corresponding with decoys -- who were portraying themselves as young boys or girls -- chatted for four to six weeks on the Internet.
Details about ____'s case and the inner workings of last month's predator sting emerged Thursday during a probable-cause hearing for ____, 24, of Grand Rapids, possibly the only suspect who chose to go ahead with the hearing.
Most of the suspects have waived their hearings and now face trial in Kent County Circuit Court, although seven men still await probable-cause hearings before 63rd District Judge Sara Smolenski.
Smolenski ordered ____ and another suspect, 20-year-old ____ of Cedar Springs, to stand trial. ____, who waived his hearing, was this fall's boys junior varsity soccer coach at Cedar Springs High School.
Thursday's testimony showed ____ responded to a classified ad on the Web site Craigslist that simply said: "Looking for friend. Gay or bi friends" followed by a Yahoo and AOL instant messaging name. The ad included a picture of a boy portrayed as the advertiser, but who actually was 41-year-old Greg Brainer, of Milford, a volunteer for the national group Perverted Justice.
Brainer went by the screen name Beltlinedog.
____, going by shy_guy_99, responded to the ad not long after it was posted and struck up a conversation, according to evidence.
Brainer testified that, only a few minutes later, ____ asked: "Do you do naughty things on a cam?" and later told Beltlinedog "You got a nice bod."
___ sent Brainer a file with body shots of a young, toned man he claimed was him, but was not. He later sent photos of someone he claimed was his roommate, but was really ____, Brainer testified.
--It appears that PJ-Brainer was the one who FIRST sent photos to ____, photos that may have been child porn. PJ has refused to allow a court to look at their computers, and according to these news reports, offenders have UPLOADED child porn to PJ computers; what has happened to that child porn? Is it now being used in this sting (..body shots of a young, toned MAN [or child])?
"He didn't think the (boy) would be interested in the way he looked, but he might be interested in the younger, thinner picture," Michigan Attorney General Special Agent Mike Ondejko recounted from an interview with ____ after his arrest.
In the interview, ____ said he later "went to a house under the assumption he was going to receive sexual services," thinking he was talking to a 14-year-old boy named Devon. Police also found condoms and lubricant.
____'s attorney, however, suggested ____ never intended a sexual encounter, based on two statements to Brainer that he only wanted to instruct the minor on engaging in safe sex. He also questioned the legality of the sting, partly because Brainer portrayed himself as a teen to Craigslist when the Web site's rules require advertisers to be 18.
____ began talking with the decoy at 9:47 a.m. on Oct. 19, according to Brainer, and was arrested at 5:32 p.m. the same day after arranging to meet the boy at a Grand Rapids Township home where the sting was set up. The Kent County Sheriff's Department, Perverted Justice and the Attorney General's office collaborated on the effort. ..News Source.. by John Tunison, The Grand Rapids Press
November 4, 2008
Internet Stings by Michigan's Attorney General in 2008
November 2008 Commentary:
A full review of both 2008 stings by Attorney General Cox is coming, but for now here are the source news articles from which facts and statistics will be drawn in my commentary.
The first sting was conducted in March (7,8,9) and the second in October (17,18,19). AG Cox has a system which has two phases: Phase-I is where he arrests those who show up at the sting residence, and, Phase-II where he arrests those who chatted but did not show up at the sting home.
As of today AG Cox is in his Phase-II of the October sting and may not have yet arrested all those on his list, so I am in a waiting patiently for the remainder of news releases.
Facts:
-No registered sex offenders were in either stings;
-No offender had any background of a sexual offense;
-All offenders lacked a criminal background, excepting a few had minor offenses (DUI, etc.);
-News articles point out that, early chat sessions were not monitored by police but were performed by Perverted Justice from somewhere outside of the state of Michigan;
-News articles also point out that, once the sting house was setup, police officers did participate in the final chats which established the meeting at the sting house;
-News articles conflict on: Whether offenders asked to meet the decoy or whether police invited the offender to meet the decoy;
-One news article shows PJ signing into Craigslist, as a person under 18 which violates Craigslist rules, then sending and receiving what seems to be touted as child porn.
-So far, there is no mention of Perverted Justice being paid for their services as they were with the NBC Show "To Catch a Predator." However, it is interesting that Grand Rapids recently received a Department of Justice federal GRANT (for $433,000) to setup and tarin local officers on Internet stings.
-Kent County Sheriff Larry "Stelma approved $25,000 in overtime for the weekend operation and said, if asked, he would join in another 'in a heartbeat.'" October Sting.
News articles that form the basis for comments:
March Sting:
Phase-I
MI- AG: Cops Arrest 27 Internet Sex Predators
MI- 27 arrested in child sex Internet sting
MI- Local man faces 20 years following sex sting
MI- Internet sting
Phase-II
MI- Internet Predator Sting Arrests 11
MI- Max for Internet Predator Crew: 298 Years
MI- Internet sting nabs 2 Wayne-Westland suspects
MI- Police arrest Owosso man after Internet sting
October Sting:
Phase-I
MI- Grand Rapids predator sting nets 21 arrests, one is JV coach (w/Video)
MI- Monterey man nabbed in sex sting
MI- Men arrested in Internet predator sting come from varied backgrounds, states
MI- Transcripts from alleged predators' online chats show hesitation, suspicion in talk with decoy teen
MI- Some predators worked with kids
MI- 21 alleged predators arrested in sting at Grand Rapids Township house
MI- Internet predator sting nabs men in GR
MI- Men arrested in sex sting offered deals
MI- Internet child predator sting nets four Metro Detroiters
MI- Predator suspects get no sympathy from judge
MI- Bridgeport Township man faces arraignment for soliciting a teen in a police sting
MI- Alleged sex predators
MI- Suspect caught in Internet predator sting used fake photo, police say
MI- Internet sting tactics
MI- Internet sting tactics challenged (Critical information here)
MI- Judge: Decoy's age in soccer coach's Internet sex predator case irrelevant
MI- Wyoming man sentenced to prison for Internet sex sting (Phase-I Sentencing)
MI- Byron Township man caught in online predator sting pleads guilty (Actually two men plead guilty, second man is in next article.)
MI- 'Net predator sting suspect convicted
MI- Cedar Springs man pleads guilty, sentenced to year in jail as part of Internet sex sting; father says it was entrapment
MI- Former Cedar Springs soccer coach asks for forgiveness, but judge denies request for more lenient sentence in Internet sex sting case
MI- Bryon Township man sentenced as part of Internet sex sting
MI- Bradley Jahnkey sentenced to 1-20 years in prison for Internet crime in underage sex sting (7-9-2009)
MI- Sentence, plea for 2 Internet predators (7-30-09)
Phase-II
MI- Sex sting suspect took bait quickly, court told This suspect never went to the sting home, but apparently made arrangements to do so and was arrested.
MI- Owosso man's Internet case spawns charge from attorney general's office, legal debate over online meetings
Awaiting Phase-II arrests and resulting news reports, allegedly there are up to 50 which is mentioned in one of the news reports...
A commenter noted a message s/he received from a MI Senator, and in that message MCOLES is mentioned, CLICK to learn more about MCOLES.
The following news reports has nothing to do with MI/Stings
but does contain information on similar PJ stings.
==========================================================
CA- Decoy testifies at sex-sting hearing: Doctor's defense unlikely to be allowed to call computer expert to refute theory
CA- Failed hard drive becomes issue in predator sting case Perverted Justice first REFUSED to allow access to their hard drives, now claims the hard drive failed and said it was put on a thumb drive. Is there something fishy here?
FL- 2008 ‘Dateline’ predator sting a huge success in Fort Myers (In this case the man did not go inside the home and was found NOT GUILTY. That would cause Michigan's AG Phase-II cases to be dismissed because none of the Phase-II cases ever went to the home.) Lawyers take heed!
FL- 'Predator' sting group rejects judge's order (PJ WILL NOT ALLOW anyone to look at their computers, even the court!)
FL- Man posing as teen girl explains role in Dateline sex sting
CA- Judge rules for doctor in sex case
IN- Rulings target Internet sex stings (Charges would not stick, defendants won)
WI- Anatomy of a sting
MI- Monterey man nabbed in sex sting
10-30-2008 Michigan: (Phase-I)
MONTEREY — __________, of Monterey, was among 21 men who were arrested during an Internet child sexual predator sting at a Grand Rapids Township home in Michigan last week, each accused of trying to meet with a teen for sex.
____, a disabled Gulf War vet who is currently enrolled as a student at Ancilla College and lives in Monterey with his wife ____, actually asked his Internet chat companion, carriebear_94, if she was involved with the police.
“u not going 2 have police or anything like that there r u,” he wrote.
The decoy pretended to be shocked and outraged by _____’ suggestion.
“well with undercover cops online and such have 2 b caucious. Do u blame me,” he wrote.
The material above is quoted verbatim.
____ admitted to carriebear_94 that he was married. He wrote that he would tell his wife he needed to be alone and then he would head to meet her. Immediately after entering the Grand Rapids home, _____ was surrounded by police and arrested.
According to reports, most of those apprehended in the sting have no criminal records. However, a couple of suspects did have drunk driving and domestic violence offenses on record.
While most had no criminal records at all, some were in positions where they have regular contact with or near children.
_____, 20, was hired at Cedar Springs High School in August as the junior varsity soccer coach; _______, 30, of Hazel Park said he is a referee for USA Hockey, where he officiates at both adult and youth events; ______, 45, of Wyoming, delivers cookie dough to food service departments at schools.
The 21 accused were all arraigned Monday, Oct. 20 in the 63rd District Court on charges of using a computer to commit a crime, and child sexually abusive activity.
Each was ordered to be held in Kent County jail on $50,000 bonds. Judge Sara Smolenski denied requests for lower bonds, citing public safety as her reason for denial.
The teen used in the sting was a made-up username of a 14-year-old boy and/or girl.
-Is this an error? "The teen used in the sting ..."
However, the officers waiting inside the Grand Rapids home for the arrival of each predator were very real.
The sting was a collaborative effort between the state attorney general’s office, a national organization called Perverted Justice and the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Would-be predators were engaged in Internet chat sessions with undercover agents who were posing as teens for about two months. Undercover agents eventually agreed to meet at the suspects’ request.
According to attorney general lawyers, the suspects were always the ones who initiated talks about sex and a possible rendezvous.
During a press conference that was held Monday, Oct. 20, at the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, Attorney General Mike Cox said the suspects don’t believe they will be caught even though there were some who had actually admitted to watching shows like “To Catch a Predator.”
“They think there are so many children out there that the odds there is going to be a police officer on the other end of the Internet is low,” he said.
Probable cause hearings have been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3 for all of the suspects.
Those arrested range in age from 20 to 65 years, and each faces from two to 20 years in prison if convicted. ..News Source.. by CHERYL PATRICK LEADER STAFF WRITER
November 2, 2008
MI- Local man faces 20 years following sex sting
3-16-2008 Michigan: (Phase-I)
DEARBORN - A Dearborn resident was one of 27 men arrested as part of an Internet sexual predator sting operation conducted March 7-9 by the Michigan Attorney General's Office, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Van Buren Township Police Department.
_______, 30, has been charged with child sexually abusive activity and using a computer to communicate with another to commit a crime. If convicted, the Dearborn resident could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
"Let this be a message to all those who would put children in harm's way — we're watching you," said Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in a press release.
All 27 men — 26 from Michigan and one from New Jersey — were caught after chatting online with a person they thought was either an underage teenage boy or girl. The men are between the ages of 19 and 57.
During the chats, the men were invited to meet the child in an unoccupied home in Van Buren Township. When they arrived, Van Buren Township police officers and Wayne County Sheriff's Department deputies were there to greet and arrest them.
The undercover officers, who worked in connection with the Michigan Attorney General's Office, scheduled different times for the men to show up.
-Obviously these officers ONLY worked the actual weekend (March 7-8-9) of the sting.
Four of the men arrived via taxi, while another was dropped off by his sister. One biked from Ypsilanti in 15-degree weather and another drove to the house on a flat tire that was shredded and worn to the rim by the time he arrived.
To law enforcement, that reinforces their believe that some of the men will go to extremes to set up a sexual tryst with a child.
"Even with the level of attention that these kinds of stings attract, the fact that so many men are still lining up to meet children for sex over the Internet should send shockwaves through the home of any parent," Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said in a press release.
The arrests were the result of a collaborative effort that had been in the works since October. A group that has attained national fame for being featured on the hit show "Dateline NBC: To Catch A Predator" was behind these arrests, as well.
-This means the sting started in October of 2007. So from October of 2007 through March of 2008 Investigative Mechanics monitored every move of Perverted Justice? I find that hard to believe since PJ has been involved in other stings in that same time frame.
Volunteers with Perverted-Justice.com posed as children in online chat rooms and carried on the conversations with the men. A video-audio surveillance company, Investigative Mechanics, also monitored the chats.
Van Buren police Capt. Greg Laurain said the arrests should send "a clear message that we are watching those who would put children in danger."
"We used the dark side of the Internet to do that," he said. "I think the fact that these guys think they can still get away with this stuff is pretty amazing."
Two men circled the house, but never got out of their vehicles. They, too, were arrested.
"At that point, we already have them on the Internet chat material," Laurain said. "The fact that these guys showed up to the house is just icing on the cake. They don't need to go into the house to be arrested."
Laurain said most of the suspects denied they were there for sex. All of the men were searched and had their vehicles searched, if they arrived in one.
Condoms were found on a number of the men, Laurain said. One even brought an overnight bag, he said.
This sting was Perverted Justice's fifth largest in the number of arrests, according to the group's Web site.
In addition to the 27 who were arrested, several other men who chatted online with the decoys are also expected to be charged for sending sexually explicit material to someone they believed to be a child.
"Phase two is expected to arrest as many as, if not more than, the number of individuals arrested in phase one, bringing the total number of arrests to more than 50," Cox said.
"Law enforcement has a clear choice in dealing with the danger of Internet predators — either react after a child has been subjected to an assault or be proactive and intervene before they can harm a child. For us, this is an easy choice."
The 27 men arrested during the sting operation, including ___, were arraigned in 34th District Court and are being held on $50,000 cash bonds. They are due back in court Wednesday for a preliminary examination of the evidence against them. ..News Source.. by Sean Delaney, Press & Guide Newspapers
MI- AG: Cops Arrest 27 Internet Sex Predators
3-10-2008 Michigan: (Phase-I)
DETROIT (AP) - Twenty-seven people have been nabbed in an Internet sex sting in Wayne County.
All but one of those arrested is from Michigan. They range in age from 19 to 57.
The Michigan attorney general's office, Wayne County sheriff's office and Van Buren Township police conducted the undercover operation Friday through Sunday.
Agents posing as minors communicated on the Internet with alleged child sex predators. They then began informing them of their location, a decoy home in Wayne County. They arrested people who came to the house and others who drove by.
Authorities also plan to arrest individuals who transmitted sexually explicit material online to agents but didn't travel to the decoy location.
From the attorney general....
MORE THAN TWO DOZEN INTERNET SEX PREDATORS ARRESTED IN STING BY AG COX, WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF EVANS, AND VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP POLICE
DETROIT -- Attorney General Mike Cox, Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans and Van Buren Township Police Chief Gerry Champagne today announced that 27 individuals have been arrested as part of a joint proactive Internet Child Predator sting conducted March 7th, 8th and 9th in Wayne County's Van Buren Township.
All but one of the 27 defendants arrested are from Michigan, and all are male, including a physician. They range in age from 19 to 57, the average age being 30. Four individuals arrived via taxi cab, one individual was dropped off by his sister, one biked from Ypsilanti in 15-degree weather and one drove to the decoy home on a flat tire that was shredded by the time of arrival.
In Phase Two of the sting, an additional round of arrests will follow for those individuals who transmitted sexually explicit material online to agents posing as minors but did not travel to the decoy location. Phase Two is expected to arrest as many as, if not more than, the number of individuals arrested in Phase One, bringing the total number of arrests to more than fifty.
"Law enforcement has a clear choice in dealing with the danger of Internet Predators --either react after a child has been subjected to an assault or be proactive and intervene before they can harm a child. For us, this is an easy choice," Cox said. "I also want to single out the
Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Van Buren Township Police for their work and professionalism. They did an outstanding job."
"Even with the level of attention that these kinds of stings attract, the fact that so many men are still lining up to meet children for sex over the Internet should send shock waves through the home of any parent," Sheriff Evans said. "As many predators as we have caught and convicted, it only scratches the surface of what's out there. Parents must take an active role in monitoring what their kids are doing online to keep them from putting themselves at risk."
According to Van Buren Township Director of Public Safety Gerald Champagne, "This successful operation resulted in the arrest of several predators from our local area and surrounding communities. This proactive sting operation was conducted to identify predators willing to travel to our area and warn others that they will be arrested if they prey on our children for sex."
From Friday to Sunday, undercover agents who had been communicating on the Internet with child sexual predators began informing them of their location, a specially prepared decoy home in Wayne County. Predators who arrived at the decoy home, and also those who just drove by, were arrested by police officers from the partnering agencies. They will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's office.
The joint Internet Predator Sting also involved the use of a volunteer non-profit partner known as Perverted Justice to communicate with alleged predators, and a video/audio surveillance company, Investigative Mechanics. Perverted Justice has conducted more than 20 similar sting operations nationwide. All chats comport with the Michigan Rules of Evidence.
A series of steps were taken by all partner agencies to safeguard neighbors both during the operation and after. "We're going after all those who use the dark side of the Internet to target children. And let this be a message to all those who would put children in harm's way – we're watching you," Cox concluded.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Prior to this weekend's joint sting operation, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 158 Internet Sexual predators. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators via the Report internet Abuses Against Children link or by calling the Child and Public Protection Unit at (313) 456-0180.
The Attorney General's Office also created the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative
(Michigan CSI), an Internet safety education program with customized presentations for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and a community seminar. More than 1,600 presentations have been given to more than 150,000 students to date. For more information or to request a presentation, call 877-765-8388. Go to www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children. ..News Source.. by WXYZ.com
MI- Internet sting nabs 2 Wayne-Westland suspects
5-29-2008 Michigan: (Phase-II)
Two area men are among 11 people arrested last week as part of a multi-jurisdictional Internet child predator sting.
_____, 25, of Westland and ____, 31, of Wayne, now face criminal charges after allegedly being caught in the second phase of a sting operated by the Van Buren Township Police Department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office that targeted adults who solicited sex from or sent sexually graphic materials to children via computer.
Both ___ and ____ now face one charge of communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—accosting and soliciting a minor for immoral purposes, which is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Both men are also accused of one count of communicating via the Internet to commit a crime, specifically the dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. If convicted on the second charge, the punishment is up to four years in prison.
The first phase of the joint operation, which prompted the arrests of 27 men, was a three-day sting in March in which alleged predators traveled to a home in Van Buren Township with the expectation that the meeting would allegedly provide a sexual experience involving a minor.
“The first 27 suspects were the ones who showed up at the house, then several others sent things over the web, but never showed up,” said Jerry Champagne, director of the public safety department for Van Buren Township. “One guy didn’t even show up in March because two days prior to our sting he was arrested in Macomb County for the same thing. Another guy actually contacted a girl and convinced her to go to Europe with him, but he was arrested because the girl’s mom saw it on the computer.”
The more recent crackdown, known as phase two, targeted individuals who had chatted online with volunteers posing as minors, but who didn’t travel to the decoy location during the earlier phase.
“This Internet predator sting was unique,” said Attorney General Mike Cox. “Most focus only on those predators that traveled, but not with this project. If you solicit a child for sex or send sexually graphic material to a youngster, you don’t escape prosecution just because you never got off your couch. Identifying this type of Internet predator can be difficult, but the extra effort is worth it to protect children from those who seek to harm them by using the Internet.”
According to Rusty Hills, spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, it is not unusual for law enforcement personnel to be online in the hopes of capturing a predator. Instead, he said that it was the sheer magnitude of the sting that made it unusual.
“Often times you have young people on the computer who are too trusting,” said Hills. “They may not listen to their mom or dad…but they’ll believe anything they read on the Internet.”
The sting, he said, essentially turned the tables on would-be pedophiles who take advantage of that trust by hiding their identity online to solicit children when the ‘kids’ turn out to be adult volunteers.
Volunteers were provided through the non-profit organization Perverted Justice, which is operated specifically to find and help convict pedophiles and to discourage would-be pedophiles from acting. The group is well known for their efforts nationwide, including the ‘To Catch a Predator’ specials that are regularly broadcast on Dateline NBC.
“This two-phase operation has been an unqualified success and taken countless children out of harm’s way,” said Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans. “The arrests made during phase two are equally as important as those made at the sting house because each suspect’s ultimate goal has been the same: sexual gratification through the exploitation of children.”
Between the two phases, the operation has resulted in 38 arrests of men from Michigan as well as one from New Jersey. The suspects ranged from 19 to 57 years old. ..News Source.. by Meghan Chatham, Staff Writer
October 25, 2008
MI- Internet Predator Sting Arrests 11
Don't forget to see: Commentary on the MAY Michigan "Internet Predator" Sting in Wayne County
5-22-2008 Michigan: (Phase-II)
DETROIT − Attorney General Mike Cox announced today the arrest of 11 Internet predators from across the state in Phase II of a joint Internet Child Predator sting conducted by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, the Van Buren Township Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General's Office, bringing the total number of arrests from both phases of the sting to more than three dozen.
"This Internet Predator sting was unique. Most focus only on those predators that travel. Not so with this project. If you solicit a child for sex, or send sexually graphic material to a youngster, you do not escape prosecution just because you never got off your couch," Cox said. "Identifying this type of Internet predator can be difficult, but the extra effort is worth it to protect children from those who seek to harm them by using the Internet."
Phase I of the sting resulted in the arrests of 27 men, in a 3-day predator sting operation in early March. The 27 individuals traveled to a decoy location in Wayne County and were arrested upon arrival.
Phase II of the Joint Internet Predator sting targeted individuals who chatted online with volunteers posing as minor children, but did not travel to the decoy location. The 11 individuals arrested have been charged with using the Internet to solicit sex from a minor, as well as disseminating sexually explicit material to a minor.
More than nine Special Agents from the Attorney General's Office and four Assistant Attorneys General worked to identify and arrest the 11 men charged in Phase II of the sting. The Phase II arrests are unique to Internet predator stings. Generally, law enforcement only arrests those individuals that actually travel to a meeting place. Cox's office is the first to identify, arrest, and charge individuals who used the Internet to arrange sex with a minor, but did not arrive for the meeting with the child.
"This two-phase operation developed by Attorney General Cox has been an unqualified success and taken countless children out of harm's way," said Sheriff Evans. "The arrests made during Phase II are equally as important as those made at the sting house because each suspect's ultimate goal has been the same: sexual gratification through the exploitation of children."
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Since its restructuring, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 195 Internet sexual predators. Attorney General Cox encourages parents to visit www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators via the Report Internet Abuses Against Children link, or by calling the Child and Public Protection Unit at (313) 456-0180.
The Attorney General's Office also created the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (Michigan CSI), an Internet safety education program with customized presentations for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and a community seminar. Presentations have been given to more than 200,000 students in more than 165 school districts in 63 of Michigan's 83 counties to date. For more information or to request a presentation, call 877-765-8388 or go to www.michigan.gov/csi. ..Source.. by MI-AG Office
October 22, 2008
MI- Transcripts from alleged predators' online chats show hesitation, suspicion in talk with decoy teen
10-22-2008 Michigan: (Phase-I)
GRAND RAPIDS — In an online chat a week ago with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, insurance representative ____ allegedly talked about being nervous to meet the teen for sex.
"i wish i wasn't, but i care that you dont get hurt and i don't go to jail," jason24829 wrote, according to transcripts released by authorities. "i don't want to lose everything i have."
The 14-year-old — really a decoy for an Internet sting operation — voiced disappointment that ____, 34, might back out and not want to "hook up."
"you know i do...i just have A LOT to lose ya know," wrote jason24829.
"sowwwy," wrote angeldreemzzz, the decoy.
"my home, my job everything," jason24829 wrote.
Angeldreemzzz: "i jst wanna have fun."
Jason24829: "i know. me too."
Transcripts of Internet chats that led up to last weekend's child predator sting at a Grand Rapids Township home, nabbing 21 men, including ___ of Cedar Springs, shows the mindset of some of the suspects. ____ was hesitant, but drove to meet the teen anyway and was arrested after driving his mini-van past the house.
_____, 35, of Indiana, was bold enough to ask his decoy, carriebear_94, whether she was the police.
"u not going 2 have police or anything like that their r u," he wrote.
The decoy acted surprised and offended.
"well with undercover cops on line and such have 2 b caucious. do u blame me." he wrote.
_____, who told the decoy he was married, wrote that he would tell his wife he wanted to be alone, then drive to their rendezvous. He was arrested last Friday after stepping inside the Grand Rapids Township house and was swarmed by police.
Authorities hope the high-profile sting operation, with the public humiliation that comes with the arrests, will deter would-be child predators from talking with young teens on the Internet.
"It can cause a predator to think twice, or a criminal to think twice," said Matt Frendewey, a spokesman for state Attorney General Mike Cox. "The second factor is, it also draws attention to the problem for parents to realize this issue is prevalent across the state."
Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma, whose department joined with the Attorney General's office and national organization Perverted Justice for the sting, is not convinced stings will keep predators away from chat rooms, but is all for arresting them when possible.
"Even as you and I are speaking, I would wager there is somebody out there right now trying to entice a young girl or boy into an immoral act," he said.
Internet predators do not believe they will get caught, he said.
"Everyone else is going to get caught, they think," he said.
Stelma said the scope of the problem is immense and believes his department could do another sting in 30 days and make more arrests. Stelma approved $25,000 in overtime for the weekend operation and said, if asked, he would join in another "in a heartbeat."
Before this sting, operations conducted by the Attorney General's Office and police agencies across the state resulted in more than 200 arrests. Additional arrests are expected of those who had inappropriate chats with minors but did not show at the sting house.
Frendewey said the Internet provides predators with easy access to minors.
"It's a serious problem. It's a serious threat," he said.
Still, authorities must continue getting the word out so that parents understand the threat. He said parents would undoubtedly act if a stranger showed up while the kids played in the back yard, but might not recognize the threat of the computer in the living room.
Of the 21 men arrested in last weekend's sting, at least five had posted a $50,000 bond to get out of jail. Bond conditions prevent them from being around minors or using the Internet. ..News Source.. by John Tunison and John Agar The Grand Rapids Press
MI- 21 alleged predators arrested in sting at Grand Rapids Township house
10-22-2008 Michigan: (Phase-I)
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP -- A national organization aimed at catching Internet child sexual predators nabbed 21 men who showed up at a Grand Rapids-area house over the weekend, thinking they would have sex with a girl as young as 13 or 14.
The Perverted Justice Foundation worked with about a dozen Kent County sheriff's detectives and deputies over the weekend, staging at a Grand Rapids Township home while men from as far away as Illinois and Indiana came to the house expecting to see the young teen.
Instead, they were arrested, often as they came through the front door.
Perverted Justice decoys, portraying themselves as 13 or 14 in Web chat rooms, had been talking with the men for up to a month before the weekend sting. The men who showed up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday had arranged to meet the teen for sex, said Xavier Von Erck, the foundation's director.
The suspects, all taken to jail, ranged in age from 20 to 65.
Perverted Justice is the same group that worked with Dateline NBC in its popular "To Catch A Predator" series.
In Grand Rapids, the group worked with the Michigan Attorney General's office to set up operations in an undisclosed house. An agency called Investigative Mechanics filmed the Grand Rapids sting.
Perverted Justice also worked with the Attorney General in March to catch 27 people who showed up at a southeast Michigan home. The stings take a lot of preparation, Von Erck said.
"We work from around the nation. In this case, the decoys log on and pretend to be from Michigan," he said. "(Suspects) bring up the fact they want to meet and from there we just say 'when?'"
Often, men looking for sex will show up at the sting house at nearly the same time because they often arrive late or early to the arranged rendezvous.
"You'll have guys showing up on top of each other left and right," Von Erck said. "But we are pretty practiced at this point in handling that situation."
Von Erck described 21 arrests as a good sting. At least four of the men drove from Indiana and one from Illinois.
"We are very happy with that," he said. "Anytime you can get more than a few guys on a weekend, you're doing a great job."
Often, Internet predators will not have any previous criminal record. Some will admit they had seen a "To Catch A Predator" show, knew the risks and still drove to a rendezvous point.
"It's unbelievable from our perspective," Von Erck said. "We've been at this more than five years. I thought after a few years it would be over, but it keeps going."
Kent County sheriff's Sgt. Nick Kaechele said he was pleased with the weekend operation's results. The sting was "kept under wraps" to media for security reasons, he said.
"I have a daughter in that (decoy) age group," he said, "so I'm proud of what was accomplished."
Police and the Attorney General's office planned a press conference on the sting as early as today. ..News Source.. by John Tunison The Grand Rapids Press
May 30, 2008
MI- Internet sting nabs 2 Wayne-Westland suspects
5-30-2008 Michigan:
Two area men are among 11 people arrested last week as part of a multi-jurisdictional Internet child predator sting.
Jason Duane Hughes, 25, of Westland and Corey Patrick Dingman, 31, of Wayne, now face criminal charges after allegedly being caught in the second phase of a sting operated by the Van Buren Township Police Department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office that targeted adults who solicited sex from or sent sexually graphic materials to children via computer.
Both Dingman and Hughes now face one charge of communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—accosting and soliciting a minor for immoral purposes, which is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Both men are also accused of one count of communicating via the Internet to commit a crime, specifically the dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. If convicted on the second charge, the punishment is up to four years in prison.
The first phase of the joint operation, which prompted the arrests of 27 men, was a three-day sting in March in which alleged predators traveled to a home in Van Buren Township with the expectation that the meeting would allegedly provide a sexual experience involving a minor.
“The first 27 suspects were the ones who showed up at the house, then several others sent things over the web, but never showed up,” said Jerry Champagne, director of the public safety department for Van Buren Township. “One guy didn’t even show up in March because two days prior to our sting he was arrested in Macomb County for the same thing. Another guy actually contacted a girl and convinced her to go to Europe with him, but he was arrested because the girl’s mom saw it on the computer.”
The more recent crackdown, known as phase two, targeted individuals who had chatted online with volunteers posing as minors, but who didn’t travel to the decoy location during the earlier phase.
“This Internet predator sting was unique,” said Attorney General Mike Cox. “Most focus only on those predators that traveled, but not with this project. If you solicit a child for sex or send sexually graphic material to a youngster, you don’t escape prosecution just because you never got off your couch. Identifying this type of Internet predator can be difficult, but the extra effort is worth it to protect children from those who seek to harm them by using the Internet.”
According to Rusty Hills, spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, it is not unusual for law enforcement personnel to be online in the hopes of capturing a predator. Instead, he said that it was the sheer magnitude of the sting that made it unusual.
“Often times you have young people on the computer who are too trusting,” said Hills. “They may not listen to their mom or dad…but they’ll believe anything they read on the Internet.”
The sting, he said, essentially turned the tables on would-be pedophiles who take advantage of that trust by hiding their identity online to solicit children when the ‘kids’ turn out to be adult volunteers.
Volunteers were provided through the non-profit organization Perverted Justice, which is operated specifically to find and help convict pedophiles and to discourage would-be pedophiles from acting. The group is well known for their efforts nationwide, including the ‘To Catch a Predator’ specials that are regularly broadcast on Dateline NBC.
“This two-phase operation has been an unqualified success and taken countless children out of harm’s way,” said Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans. “The arrests made during phase two are equally as important as those made at the sting house because each suspect’s ultimate goal has been the same: sexual gratification through the exploitation of children.”
Between the two phases, the operation has resulted in 38 arrests of men from Michigan as well as one from New Jersey. The suspects ranged from 19 to 57 years old. ..News Source.. by Andrea King
See also: Max for Internet Predator Crew: 298 Years
