Five West Michigan Men Arrested in Child Exploitation Sting

UPDATE (8/20/24): A fifth man has been arrested and charged in connection to an undercover sting operation by the Kent County Sheriff's Department and the FBI. Jack Draper (35) of Wyoming was arraigned on his charges on Monday, August 19, 2024. Like the previous four men, Draper is facing charges of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, Accosting a Minor, and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime.

ORIGINAL STORY (8/15/24): Four West Michigan men are behind bars following an undercover sting by the Kent County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s West Michigan-Based Child Exploitation Task Force.

In a release on August 15, KCSO said the sting occurred last week. During the sting, officers put ads on social media and apps posing as minors. Men who responded to the ads sent and requested explicit photos and videos. Two of the men drove to West Michigan to meet up for sex with what they believed to be minors.

The four men arrested and have been arraigned are Justin Hastings (40) of Comstock Park, Samuel Durham (36) of East Grand Rapids, Thomas Ramsey (66) of Wyoming, and Jason Burgess (40) of Coloma.

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All four men have been charged with Child Sexually Abusive Activity which is a 20-year felony, Accosting a Minor which is a 4-year felony, and Using a Computer to Communicate With Another to Commit a Crime which carries a sentence of 15 years to life.

In a statement, Cheyvoryea Gibson, a Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, said,

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 or someone you know is being exploited or trafficked, you are asked to contact the KCSO's Human Trafficking Task Force at 616-632-6125, or email tips directly to HTTF@kentcountymi.gov.