Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice:

 

205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including two in the District of Kansas

[KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.] – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.  

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach, and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

"Keeping our children safe is a priority, and sexual predators are mistaken if they think the cloak of the Internet's Dark Web places them beyond the detection and reach of the U.S. Department of Justice," said Acting U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard. "Here in the District of Kansas, partnerships of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work in tandem to investigate child sexual abuse cases using such resources such as cybertips and undercover operations. Officers forward substantiated allegations to federal prosecutors who are specially trained in litigating charges of possession, production, and distribution of child exploitation sexual abuse materials."

In the District of Kansas, two individuals were arrested and charged with federal crimes, including:

•    Christopher Davis, 39, of Wellington was indicted on four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography

•    Christopher Slattery, 42, of Manhattan was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor - possession of child pornography

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Kansas named one hub for human trafficking in the U.S.

By: McKenzi Davis

The federal government has named Kansas a hub for human trafficking in the U.S., and now Kansas organizations are partnering together to decrease these crimes.

According to victim service grantees that work with the Kansas Attorney General's Office, over 470 individuals identified themselves as victims of human trafficking in 2017, just in Kansas. Human trafficking is the use of force to obtain some type of labor through sexual acts.

State officials say the numbers are rising, so local organizations are working harder to protect women.

The YWCA is one of the organizations fighting to help women who have been victims of human trafficking. Just this year, they say they have helped more than 70 victims. The Attorney General's Office said trafficking is happening in places you least expect it.

"So many people are unaware," said Northeast Kansas YWCA CEO, Kathleen Marker. "And they need to be sensitive to what they are seeing because it can be right under their nose and not know that this is happening."

The Kansas Attorney General's Director of Human Trafficking Education, Jennifer Montgomery, said people are being trafficked through businesses like restaurants, truck stops and even through construction jobs. The federal government named Kansas as one of the hubs for human trafficking because it is in the middle of the United States. This is making the YWCA and with other Kansas organization work harder for the victims.

"Having partnerships between victim service agencies, government agencies and those sorts of things are important," said Montgomery. "The government itself can't fix the problem. Law enforcement can't fix it on their own. It's really a team effort."

The Attorney General's Office said it's training truck drivers to recognize human trafficking victims. They have required commercial drivers to take a test on spotting trafficking signs.

Kansas Man Convicted of Producing Child Pornography

JUSTICE NEWS

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

A Lindsborg, Kansas man who traveled to the Philippines and had sex with minor females there pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child pornography. 

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister of the District of Kansas made the announcement.

Anthony Shultz, 55, helicopter pilot, was charged by complaint in July 2016 and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Eric F. Melgren of the District of Kansas. Sentencing is scheduled for December 6, 2018.

According to admissions made in conjunction with the guilty plea, Shultz engaged in sex acts with minor females in the Philippines.  He videotaped his sexual encounters with two minors and transported the videos to his home in Kansas.  One of the girls was only 12 years old at the time; the other was 15 years old.  In one of the videos, Shultz is seen giving the 15-year-old money after having sex with her.  Shultz also produced child pornography of an 8-year-old girl in the Philippines by communicating on Skype with the child’s mother and directing the mother to expose the child’s genitals and live-stream it on web camera.  

The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Lauren E. Britsch of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart of the District of Kansas prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc(link sends e-mail).

Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Southeast Asia

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 6, 2018

Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Southeast Asia

A 71-year-old Kansas native who was residing in Panama pleaded guilty today to use of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas.

Jebediah Dishman, of Fredonia, Kansas, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with use of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States before U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. of the Southern District of Texas.  Sentencing is set for July 6.

Dishman was arrested in Houston on Nov. 8, 2016, on a criminal complaint.  On Feb. 1, 2017, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas indicted him on one count each of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in a foreign country, production of child pornography, sex trafficking of children, and obtaining custody and control of a minor for the purpose of producing sexually explicit visual depictions of the minor.

According to admissions made in conjunction with a plea agreement, in September 2014, Dishman began an approximately six-month trip to several countries in Southeast Asia.  During his trip to Indonesia, another tourist observed Dishman engaging in suspicious interactions with minors, masturbating while watching minors, and using a tablet to take photographs of a three-year-old German child.  The tourist confronted Dishman, seized his tablet, and turned it over to local authorities.  U.S. authorities later reviewed the tablet pursuant to a search warrant and discovered sexually explicit images of minors, including of the German child, as well as Internet searches indicating an interest in the sex trafficking of minors in Southeast Asia.

The FBI is investigating this case with the cooperation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.  Trial Attorneys James E. Burke IV and William M. Grady of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson of the Central District of Illinois, previously on detail at CEOS, also served as a vital member of the prosecution team at earlier stages of the litigation.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. 

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Trinity Mount Ministries

Lucas Warriors raise awareness for missing 5-year-old Lucas Hernandez

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) A group who calls themselves the Lucas Warriors gathered outside Intrust Bank Arena today and it wasn't to watch basketball.

The Lucas Warriors is a group here in Kansas who hopes to find Lucas Hernandez.

On Saturday, members stood outside Intrust Bank Arena with signs in hand in hopes of bringing Lucas home.

The Lucas Warriors talked to both Kansans and out of state fans about Lucas Hernandez and spreading the word about his disappearance.

"I love to tell his story. I think he's such a precious little boy. I think everybody just needs to know his story," says Julie LaForce.

Even if for some it wasn't easy.

"I know myself personally, I'm extremely quiet and kind of shy, so to be out here in the middle of thousands of people is a hard thing for me to do. But at this point, I would do anything to bring Lucas home," says Sheila Medlam.

The group say they have received training from Texas Equusearch to help find Lucas. They also say they're working with Lucas' dad Jonathan and his family to get help from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

As fans asked them "Who's Lucas?" the warrior group was glad they could bring awareness to his disappearance.

"What brings a better crowd than college basketball? Especially since we have Kansas, KU playing here. He needs to go national. He can't be forgotten. I'm not going to let him slip through the cracks. None of us are."

Original Article

Trinity Mount Ministries

Preventing teen prostitution a focus of convention:

Preventing teen prostitution a focus of convention:

WICHITA, Kansas -- Hundreds of police, prosecutors, and social workers are looking for ways to prevent teens from being prostituted by pimps at a conference at Century II.

The annual Governor's Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect runs through Wednesday.

• Video

• Preventing teen prostitution a focus of convention

One of the topics they're focusing on this year is human trafficking.

Runaway teenage girls can often find themselves forced into a life of drugs and prostitution.

"Anytime we have one child involved in this is way too many," said Lt. Jeff Weible, a detective who works for the exploited and missing children's unit of the Wichitapolice.

In 2010 under Steve Six, the state Attorney General's office created an advisory board to study the issue with the goal of bringing authorities and social workers together to get teens the help they need.

"They have housing needs, they have mental and emotional health needs, there's also a case that needs to be prosecuted and as a social worker, I can't do all that," said Dr. Karen Countryman-Roswurn.

Experts say girls coming from homes broken by domestic abuse are more likely to be victims of teen trafficking. The majority of girls used by pimps are runaways.

With more training and a better understanding of the warning signs, authorities hope to do more to prevent trafficking.

More than 600 people are expected to attend the three-day conference at Century II.

Among the topics featured at the conference are foster care, internet safety, and law enforcement protocol.

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