Charlevoix sheriff's department makes arrests in human trafficking sting operation
Editor's Note: The online version of this story has been updated.
CHARLEVOIX — Through a human sex trafficking sting investigation, the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested two men who were involved in attempted sex trafficking of underage girls.
According to Charlevoix County Sheriff Charles Vondra, one arrest took place on Thursday, July 21 with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol.
Detective Cody Wheat reported in a probable cause affidavit from the 90th District Court that on July 20 and 21, the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office was conducting an undercover operation at 800 Petoskey Ave. in Charlevoix County.
Wheat wrote that he, with the assistance of a Genesee County police officer, had created an account on the prostitution website "Skip The Games." This account posed as a female prostitute in Charlevoix.
An individual reached out to the fake account on July 21 and engaged in conversations of a sexual nature. Wheat said the individual agreed to pay $150 to arrange a sexual encounter.
According to Wheat, the individual described himself as "Carlos," sent a picture of himself, said he was 27 years old and provided an address in Marion, Michigan.
A printout of the conversation between Wheat using the fake account and "Carlos" shows that they engaged in sexual conversation, even when the fake account said she was 15 years old. "Carlos" used a heart emoji on the text that said her age.
The conversation continued until both accounts agreed to meet at "Carlos'" house for sexual acts.
Using investigative resources, Wheat said they were able to determine that "Carlos" was likely Juan Carlos Gomez-Hernandez.
According to Vondra, Gomez-Hernadez is from Mexico and has an expired visa.
Charlevoix resident Grant Davison Newcomb, 35, was arrested in a separate sting operation on July 20.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a Charlevoix County Sheriff's Detective had created a fake account on the dating application Grindr, and an individual using an account named "dom" reached out to the fake account on July 20. The two accounts engaged in sexual conversation, and the fake account informed "dom" that they were 15 years old.
The "dom" account later said he would meet the other person at the Charlevoix Inn and Suites, sending information about his vehicle and an image of the building. When "dom" asked what room the fake account was in, they replied with a room number. When "dom," later identified as Newcomb, knocked on the hotel room door, he was arrested.
Both Gomez-Hernandez and Newcomb have been charged with one felony count of child sexually abusive activity with a 20-year and/or $100,000 maximum penalty, one felony count of using a computer to commit a crime with maximum a 20-year prison sentence and one felony count of attempted criminal sexual conduct in the third degree.
Newcomb bonded out at $50,000 the day he was arrested. Gomez-Hernandez is still in custody, per the Charlevoix County Jail roster, as of Aug. 1.
Newcomb has a pre-trial conference scheduled at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 22. Gomez-Hernandez has a preliminary hearing at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 8.
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The Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office commended Sheriff Chris Swanson of Genesee County for his leadership and support in helping other entities investigate these types of crimes. According to Vondra, Swanson's guidance and G.H.O.S.T. certified program have been instrumental in helping his department protect citizens from these types of crimes.
Vondra added that human trafficking and human sex trafficking have no boundaries and impact everyone. If you believe someone is being trafficked or have information regarding these crimes, call 911, (231) 547-4461 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (877) 605-3424.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231)675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com. Follow her on Twitter, @adoylenews
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix sheriff's department makes arrests in human trafficking sting operation
