(WWJ) A dozen people have been arrested for allegedly targeting kids for sexual purposes in Genesee County.
Sheriff Robert Pickell announced Monday that the Genesee County Sheriff's Office G.H.O.S.T. task force took 12 more suspects into custody in the latest phase of an ongoing operation focused on human trafficking in Michigan.
Pickell said this is the latest "dirty dozen" to be netted in G.H.O.S.T.'s most recent undercover operation.
"My task force was created under a 'build it and they will come' philosophy," Pickell said in a statement. "For those targeting our innocent children however, Genesee County is no field of dreams, it has become their nightmare. This predatory behavior has led to the loss of reputation, jobs and freedom."
"The Genesee County Sheriff's Office will continue this proactive approach, to keep our homes and children safe from these predators," the sheriff said.
Pickell said one of the suspects is the father of a 13-year-old girl. He dropped her off at volleyball, then left for what he thought would be sex with a 13-year-old girl. Instead, he met up with task force officers and was arrested.
The following suspects are in custody on felony charges, including accosting a child for immoral purposes.
- Thomas Ternan, 54 - Supervisor
- David Obrien, 28 - Mechanic
- Donald Humpert, 56 - Painter
- John Thomas, 36 - Cable installer
- Larry Starnes, 49 - Airport shuttle bus driver
- Allan Tharp, 25 - Utility worker
- Julian Brignon-Rodriguez, 28 - Construction worker
- John Mandock, 53 - Unemployed
- Robert Bailey, 30 - Pool cleaner
- Keenon Waters, 25 - Apartment maintenance worker
- Ahmed Abioye, 20 - College student It was a sting.
The name of the twelfth suspect is still pending.
A G.H.O.S.T. operation back in June led to the arrest of 22 people on similar charges. While some of those 22 live in Genesee County, others traveled from Wayne, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties.
The home counties of the more recent 12 arrested were not immediately released.
