FORSYTH, Ill. (WCIA) — Five individuals were apprehended in Forsyth during a two-day operation targeting human trafficking demand, executed by Illinois State Police this week.
This initiative was spearheaded by the State Police’s Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Group on Aug. 21-22 in Macon County, with the aim of identifying people attempting to engage in commercial sexual activities.
As a result of the operation, these five men were arrested and charged with the following:
- 58-year-old Thad E. Olson of Bloomington – Charged with:
- Traveling to meet a minor (Class 3 Felony)
- Solicitation to meet a child (Class 4 Felony)
- 34-year-old Robert W. Danbury of Decatur – Charged with:
- Indecent solicitation of a minor (Class 3 Felony)
- Traveling to meet a minor (Class 3 Felony)
- Solicitation to meet a child (Class 4 Felony)
- 54-year-old Benito Rojas-Martinez of Urbana – Charged with:
- Indecent solicitation of a child (Class 3 Felony)
- Traveling to meet a minor (Class 3 Felony)
- Solicitation to meet a child (Class 4 Felony)
- Grooming (Class 4 Felony)
- 54-year-old Luke V. Nguyen of Peoria – Charged with:
- Indecent solicitation of a child (Class 3 Felony)
- Traveling to meet a minor (Class 3 Felony)
- Solicitation to meet a child (Class 4 Felony)
- Grooming (Class 4 Felony)
- 69-year-old David R. Martin of Bethany, Iowa – Charged with:
- Solicitation of a child (Class 3 Felony)
- Traveling to meet a minor (Class 3 Felony)
- Solicitation to meet a child (Class 4 Felony)
- Grooming (Class 4 Felony)
This operation formed part of a comprehensive strategy by State Police to combat human trafficking in Illinois. The following agencies collaborated to facilitate this initiative:
- The Illinois Trafficking Enforcement Group
- East Central Illinois Drug Task Force
- North Central Narcotics Task Force
- Task Force 6
- Vermilion Metropolitan Enforcement Group
- ISP Zone 4 Special Agents
- ISP SWAT
- ISP Intelligence Support Unit
- ISP Division of Patrol – Special Operations Group-Central
The Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office also provided support during the operation.
“Human trafficking is defined as employing force, fraud, or coercion to compel an individual into commercial sexual activities, labor, or services against their will,” the State Police reported in a press release. “ISP is committed to a comprehensive strategy to protect the most vulnerable with ongoing statewide operations against human trafficking.”
State Police also alert Illinois residents that the indicators of human trafficking can be subtle. For more information on these indicators, visit Recognizing the Signs | National Human Trafficking Hotline.
If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or send a text to *233733. For further details, visit humantraffickinghotline.org or email isp.crimetips@illinois.gov.
