EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WAND) — Five men have been arrested in the Effingham area following an anti-human trafficking operation conducted by the Illinois State Police.
On Jan. 25, the ISP Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Trafficking Enforcement Bureau led the operation focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts.
The following individuals were arrested and charged:
- Daniel A. Bennett (38) – Bethany, IL – Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child, Solicitation to Meet a Child
- Justin P. Covey (32) – Irvine, KY – Solicitation of a Sexual Act
- Scott A. Grote (38) – Centralia, IL – Solicitation of a Sexual Act
- David L. Hackett (71) – Tuscola, IL – Solicitation of a Sexual Act
- Thad D. White (50) – Cowden, IL – Solicitation of a Sexual Act
ISP was assisted by the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, ISP DCI Zone 6 and Zone 8, ISP SWAT, ISP Intelligence Support Unit, ISP Troop 9, Central Illinois Enforcement Group, Effingham Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email ISP.Crime.Tips@illinois.gov.
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