KENT COUNTY, Mich. — An undercover operation by the FBI and Kent County Sheriff's Office arrested multiple men after investigators say they tried to contact children on the internet for sexual purposes.
The joint effort by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI’s West Michigan-Based Child Exploitation Task Force had detectives and agents place ads on social media and mobile applications while posing as minors. Investigators say several men started communicating with the undercover accounts.
“These men start reaching out on their own accord to solicit, and then they start asking for pictures and video, and they start sending their own," said Lt. Eric Brunner, the KCSO's Human Trafficking Task Force Supervisor. "Then, that continues to progress to the point where they want to come and drive and meet up with someone.”
The Sheriff's Office says two of the men drove to an agreed upon location to have sex with a minor.
So far, four men from West Michigan have been arrested, one of whom was a high school teacher according to court documents. The Sheriff's Office says another two men, one from Michigan and one from Indiana, face imminent arrest in connection to the investigation.
The four men in custody have been arraigned on multiple charges, including child sexually abusive material, accosting a minor, and using a computer to communicate with another to commit a crime. If convicted, the men could spend the rest of their lives in prison.
“It's deep, it's dark, and it's scary for a community to know that there's people out there that want to take advantage of children," Lt. Brunner told FOX 17.
The names of the suspects are:
- Justin Hastings, a 40-year-old from Comstock Park
Kent County Sheriff's OfficeA mugshot of Justin Hastings, 40-year-old from Comstock Park - Samuel Durham, a 36-year-old from East Grand Rapids
Kent County Sheriff's OfficeSamuel Durham, 36-year-old from East Grand Rapids - Thomas Ramsey, a 66-year-old from Wyoming
Kent County Sheriff's OfficeThomas Ramsey, 66-year-old from Wyoming - Jason Burgess, a 40-year-old from Colon
Kent County Sheriff's OfficeJason Burgess, 40-year-old from Colon
According to documents obtained by FOX 17 at 63rd District Court, Burgess was a high school teacher. The Kent County Sheriff's Office confirmed Burgess was one of the two individuals who traveled to meet up with the minor they believed they were speaking with online. He's been released on bond.
Harper Creek Community Schools sent FOX 17 a copy of the letter Superintendent Rob Ridgeway sent out to staff and district families, confirming one of its now-former teachers faces criminal charges.
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Harper Creek Families and Staff,
Harper Creek Community Schools was informed of criminal charges filed against a high school teacher. The alleged criminal conduct concerns off-duty behavior unrelated to any district activities or students. The teacher has resigned from their teaching position.
The school district took immediate action to ensure the safety of our students, and we will work cooperatively with law enforcement. As a matter of principle, we do not discuss personnel matters publicly or in the press.
Harper Creek Community Schools prides itself on being an outstanding educational institution that consistently operates with purpose, respect, and integrity. We work very diligently to ensure that all students, staff, and contracted personnel are treated fairly with respect and privacy.
Sincerely,
Rob Ridgeway
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Lt. Brunner told FOX 17, by the end of June, the KCSO identified 60 potential and actual victims of sex trafficking in Kent County. That matches the total from all of 2023.
“So, we will far outpace, if not double, the numbers of people we've identified and cases we've investigated," Lt. Brunner said.
This hits even closer to home for Lt. Brunner, who has three young children at home between the ages of 10-15, giving him even more motivation to reverse the trend.
“Kids see parents as, 'I don't care what mom and dad think.' We all go through those phases, right?" he said. "Then, they tend to come back around, but being comfortable talking to them, knowing what's going on, being okay with putting boundaries in place with technology.”
The Kent County Sheriff's Office says it remains dedicated to combating online crimes including the exploitation of children. It's a sentiment shared by the FBI.
"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."
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
Support for victims of child exploitation can be found through the Children's Advocacy Centers of Michigan.
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