by WYOMING, Mich. — A coordinated child exploitation sting in West Michigan last August led to the arrest of seven men, including several from Wyoming, Michigan.
Justin Hastings of Comstock Park was sentenced on Thursday to 270 days in jail after pleading guilty on March 24 to charges of accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.
This investigation was a collaborative effort between the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s West Michigan-Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX). Task force members posed as minors online, leading to the arrest of men who contacted these fake accounts, allegedly exchanging explicit photos and videos.
Among those arrested, five were Michigan residents, including Wyoming locals Jack Draper and Thomas Ramsey. Draper recently pleaded guilty to two charges—accosting children for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime—and is scheduled for sentencing on July 7, 2025. Ramsey had already taken a guilty plea in December 2024.
Other Michigan residents arrested include Samuel Durham of East Grand Rapids and Jason Burgess of Colon. Authorities noted that two men even traveled in attempts to meet with what they believed were minors for sex.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts in Michigan and Wyoming to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable communities.
