FBI and law enforcement partners announce child exploitation crackdown; 15 arrests in one month

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The FBI, state and local law enforcement are announcing the results of more than 3 months of arrests and interventions into the exploitation of children in Kansas City and the surrounding areas as a part of the FBI’s Summer Heat Initiative.

The results include 24 arrests, to include 15 conducted in the month of August. Charges for these arrests include electronic solicitation, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct, sexual exploitation of a minor, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offenses, such as possession, distribution and production of CSAM.

“Today’s announcement reiterates law enforcement’s commitment to protecting our children,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus. “We must continue to protect our most vulnerable from harm.”

Agencies involved in the operations include the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri, the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney’s Office, the Overland Park Police Department, the Olathe Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Topeka Police Department, the Geary County (Kan.) Sheriff’s Office, the Clay Center Police Department, the Clay County (Kan.) Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team (MSTAT), the Independence (Mo.) Police Department, the Harrison County (Mo.) Prosecutor’s Office, the Boone County (Mo.) Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Probation and Parole Fugitive Apprehension Unit, and the Roane County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Office.

The following arrests occurred:

• Terrence McNutt, of Kansas City, Missouri, arrested on July 23rd and charged in Johnson County, Kansas district court with velectronic solicitation.
•  Tommie Giles, of Kansas City, Missouri, arrested on July 24th and charged in the District of Kansas with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt.
• Jason Teeman, of Raymore, Missouri, arrested on July 24th and charged in the District of Kansas with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt.
• Sean Connolly, of Onaga, Kansas, arrested on July 25th and charged in Johnson County, Kansas district court with electronic solicitation.
• Zachary Jones, of Shawnee, Kansas, arrested on July 26th and charged in Johnson County, Kansas district court with electronic solicitation.
• Sohail Ibrahimi, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on July 27th and charged in the District of Kansas with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt.
• Kelly Holloway, of Kansas City, Missouri was arrested on July 30th and charged in Montgomery County, Texas district court with online solicitation of a minor under 14.
• Alex Zoll, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was arrested on July 31st and charged in the Western District of Missouri with coercion and enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of children, and transfer of obscene material.
• Keno Davidson, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri was arrested on August 1st and charged in Johnson County, Kansas district court with electronic solicitation.
• Darryl Bush, of Clay Center, Kansas, was arrested on August 13th and charged in the District of Kansas with sexual exploitation of children.
• Alisha Dandron, of Harriman, Tennessee, was arrested on August 13th and charged in Harrison County, Missouri district court with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor child.

On August 15th, in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF) and Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department contacted two adult commercial sex workers and offered services.  Two prospective buyers of commercial sex were identified and arrested.

• Cody Titus, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on August 19th and charged in the Western District of Missouri with attempted access with intent to view child pornography.

On August 20th, in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF) and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department contacted two adult commercial sex workers and offered services. Three prospective buyers of commercial sex were identified and arrested.

• Dennis Hernandez, of Independence, Missouri was arrested on August 21st and charged in the Western District of Missouri with transportation of child pornography, production and attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
• James Fishbaugh, of Blue Springs, Missouri was arrested on August 22nd and charged in the District of Kansas with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt.
• Kelly Maserang, of Milford, Kansas, was arrested on August 22nd and charged in the District of Kansas with three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
• Travis Codi Vermillion was arrested on August 22nd and charged in Johnson County, Kansas district court with electronic solicitation.
• Christopher Daniel Myers, of Gardner, Kansas, was arrested on August 23rd and charged in Johnson County district court with electronic solicitation.
• Mia Johnson, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on August 26th and charged in the Southern District of Florida with transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
• Christopher Black, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on September 19th and charged in the Western District of Missouri with receipt, attempted receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
• Austin Evans, of Topeka, Kansas, was arrested on September 23rd and charged in the District of Kansas with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.

The charges listed above are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.