Five arrested in human trafficking sting | News, sports, jobs

MARQUETTE – Five men have been arrested by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department and other local agencies for human trafficking and child prostitution in the Upper Peninsula, according to the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office.

The undercover operation resulted in the arrest and indictment of Adam Duellman, 37, of Gwinn; Robert Wheeler, 20, of Kalamazoo; Joseph Ross, 37, of Marquette; Jeremy Kohler, 41, of Iron Mountain; and Christopher Ek, ​​44, of Wausau, Wisconsin.

All five individuals were charged with the following crimes:

– Child sexual abuse, a felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. To be convicted of this offense, the person concerned must register as a sex offender.

– Use of a computer to commit child sexual abuse, a felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. This charge carries the possibility of a consecutive sentence, depending on the sentencing court’s discretion.

– Charging a child for immoral purposes, a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of four years in prison and/or a $4,000 fine.

To be convicted of this offense, the person concerned must register as a sex offender.

– Use of a computer to solicit a child for immoral purposes, a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. This charge carries the possibility of consecutive sentencing, depending on the discretion of the sentencing court.

Local agencies that assisted in the operation include the Marquette Police Department, Chocolay Township Police Department, Forsyth Township Police Department, Negaunee Police Department and the Ishpeming Police Department. TV personality and journalist Chris Hansen of the TruBlue network was also involved in the operation.