Effingham, Illinois: Five individuals have been apprehended in the Effingham area as a result of an operation carried out by the Illinois State Police to combat human trafficking.
On January 25th, the ISP Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Trafficking Enforcement Bureau conducted an operation with the aim of identifying individuals involved in 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
The ISP received assistance from various law enforcement agencies, including 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.