FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. (KMOX) - Six men from both sides of the river have been snared in an FBI undercover operation, allegedly attempting to have sex with minors in the greater St. Louis area.
The six, ranging in age from 22 to 52, are accused of using the internet to entice someone under 17 to engage in unlawful sexual activity and traveling to a specific location to carry out that activity.
Prosecutors say two crossed state lines and/or offered to pay for sex. Some brought items with them, including alcohol, sex toys and candy.
All are charged with attempting to entice a minor. One of them 30-year-old Christopher Simmons of St. Louis, is also charged with attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child.
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If convicted, the six face between 10 years and life in federal prison.
The six charged are:
• Eric E. Hamilton, II, 22, of Maryland Heights, Missouri, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor and traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
• Godfrey C. Hubbard, 52, of Sorento, Illinois, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor.
• Justin Schneider, 33, of Edwardsville, Illinois, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor.
• Christopher M. Simmons, 30, of St. Louis, Missouri, is charged with attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child, attempted enticement of a minor, and traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
• Michael James Smith, 39, of Barnhart, Missouri, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor.
• James Tiroch, 37, of Florissant, Missouri, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office for Southern District of Illinois, the investigation was led by FBI-Springfield, with assistance from FBI-St. Louis, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Collinsville Police Department, the Edwardsville Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County States Attorney’s Office, the Alton Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Carlyle Police Department.
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