GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The U.S. Department of Justice has announced more than 200 suspected child sex offenders have been arrested, including 12 in Michigan, as part of a five-day sting.
Operation Restore Justice resulted in 205 arrests and “the rescue of 115 children.” The effort was supported by 55 FBI field offices and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide.
Attorney General Pam Bondi says she is grateful for the FBI and their partners’ work on Operation Restore Justice.
“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” Bondi said in a statement.
Twelve people were arrested in Michigan, including seven in West Michigan.
Christian Vanderveen, a 24-year-old from Comstock Park, is accused of repeatedly requesting sexually explicit images from a minor under the age of 13. The DOJ says evidence obtained from his cell phone revealed sexually explicit media and he confessed to the conduct. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.
Terry Hopkins of Muskegon Heights has been indicted for possession of child pornography. The case was reportedly investigated by Michigan State Police and the FBI. Hopkins has previously been convicted of possession of child sexually abusive material and criminal sexual conduct with a minor. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
George Lebaron of Egelston Township was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography and enticement of a minor. According to the DOJ, Lebaron established an online relationship with a 14-year-old girl and convinced her to send him nude photos. He was reportedly convicted in 2003 of criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under the age of 13. He faces up to 40 years in prison.
Two of the suspects were reportedly arrested in West Michigan but are from other parts of the country, including Shauntelle Blackmon, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Joseph Brandon, of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Martell Scott-Ware, a 29-year-old from Grand Rapids, was arrested in connection with Blackmon. They are charged with sexually exploiting a child, and Blackmon is also charged with sex trafficking.
The final arrest is Paul Masko, a former special education teacher at Ravenna High School. He was first arrested in early February for allegedly possessing child sexually abusive material. The investigation started when allegations surfaced that Masko had an inappropriate relationship with a student.
New court filings show he now faces federal charges as well. News 8 has reached out to DOJ and local police officials to see whether the new charges are connected to the same allegations for which he was charged earlier this year or if they are connected to new allegations.