L-R: Joseph Scott Peters, David Anthony Bailey (Dickenson County Sheriff's Office)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Seven people are charged after a human trafficking sting operation in Iron Mountain, Michigan.
One of the suspects worked as a therapist at a Green Bay behavioral health clinic. Another suspect is also from Green Bay.
It comes after a first of its kind sting operation from Oct. 8-12 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Dickinson County.
The sting was documented on TruBlu’s “Takedown with Chris Hansen.”
“You can watch in real time what these guys are all about, how they interact. You can see them move in for a hug or a kiss,” Hansen said.
Hansen said these stings are documented to help raise public awareness of human trafficking and online exploitation.
One of the Green Bay men is 41-year-old Joseph Peters. He was a licensed therapist at Willow Creek Behavioral Health in Green Bay.
“What’s particularly disturbing about this fellow is that because of his training and because of what he does for a living, he’s familiar in psychology. And he’s familiar with ways in which he can manipulate a child and we saw this in play,” Hansen said.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of other area law enforcement agencies had a decoy pose as a child in an online chat room.
That’s when Peters was lured into meeting the decoy nearly 100 miles from Green Bay in Iron Mountain.
“When he was confronted by me, he claimed that he was just there to save the child, that he had coaxed her into this situation to gain her trust, to protect her,” Hansen said.
It’s not clear if Peters worked with kids in his time at Willow Creek Behavioral Health.
Their corporate headquarters shared a statement:
While we are deeply concerned by the allegations, this matter involves a personal legal issue with a former employee. Given that the legal process is ongoing, we will not be providing further comment at this time.
The other Green Bay man charged is a former supply chain executive identified as 45-year-old David Bailey.
Hansen said Bailey stopped on his way to the sting house to pick up items the decoy asked him to bring.
The sting targeted people involved in the sexual exploitation of children and vulnerable adults.
Dickinson County Sheriff Aaron Rochon said this operation is key to bringing awareness to parents that their kids aren’t always safe on the internet.
“Stay engaged in your children’s lives and be parents,” Rochon said. “Be parents first and foremost and make sure that their children are protected.”
Rochon said no community is too big or small for human trafficking, and it can happen anywhere.
He hopes to conduct other stings like this in the future.
Each of the men have been charged with: Child sexually abusive activity, use of a computer to commit child sexually abusive activity, use of a computer to commit accosting a child for immoral purposes and Children – accosting for immoral purposes.
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