Indiana Child Pornography bust in Nov 2013

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WISH-TV | Indianapolis News

CRIME WATCH 8
11 arrested in child solicitation sting in Johnson County

Posted: May 16, 2022 / 10:39 AM EST / Updated: May 17, 2022 / 05:43 PM EST
FRANKLIN, Ind. (WISH) — Law enforcement officials say nearly a dozen men were arrested for child solicitation during a three-day sting.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Franklin announced the arrest of 11 men between Tuesday and Thursday.

The sheriff’s office says detectives created fake accounts on websites where the accounts stated that the person was a minor or 14 years old. The sheriff’s office says the fake accounts would also explicitly state that to the suspect that they are communicating with a minor.

Arrested in the case:

Jeff Hendricks, 49, of Unionville, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation and resisting law enforcement
Samual Kaufman, 20, of Bloomington, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation
Joshua Sliter, 30, of Greentown, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation and providing obscene material to minors
Derick Sosa, 19, of Indianapolis
Arrested for child solicitation and resisting law enforcement
Jason Thornton, 40, of Indianapolis
Arrested for child solicitation, possession of methamphetamine, operating a motor vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, felon in possession of firearm and forgery
Francisco Bernardo Amaya Marquez, 25, of Indianapolis
Arrested for child solicitation
Dylan Muncy, 22, of Indianapolis
Arrested for providing obscene material to minors
Chase Reece, 30, of McCordsville, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation and providing obscene material to minors
Nicholas Sorley, 22, of Sharpsville, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation
James Thomas II, 35, of Greenwood, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation and possession of marijuana or hash
Dustin Ussery, 35, of Anderson, Ind.
Arrested for child solicitation
Investigators say one suspect, Joshua Sliter, was more than 112 miles from his residence before being arrested. Several more suspects traveled 40 miles or more.

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JCSO said the sting was assisted by the Franklin Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Dustin Ussery (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
James Thomas II (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Nicholas Sorley (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Chase Reece (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Dylan Muncy (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Francisco Bernardo Amaya Marquez (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Jason Thornton (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Derick Sosa (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Joshua Sliter (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Samual Kaufman (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Jeff Hendricks (Provided Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Statement
“INDIANAPOLIS – The Department of Indiana American Legion youth programs, (Baseball, Oratorical, Hoosier Boys and Girls State, Junior Shooting Sports, Law Cadet Academy, Scouting, and JROTC), are designed and conducted to encourage safe interaction between program participants, staff and volunteers. In doing so, the Department of Indiana will not tolerate abuse in any form, whether it is physical, emotional, sexual, verbal or economic exploitation. Parents and families trust our programs to provide a safe and healthy environment for all involved.

“At no time did Jeff Hendricks work for the American Legion, Department of Indiana.

“Legionnaires and members of the Legion Family throughout the State of Indiana donate countless volunteer hours each year to our youth programs. Our youth programs teach young people a variety of practical skills, as well as developing leadership, teamwork, discipline, and self-confidence. Our programs encourage a strong sense of citizenship, patriotism and good-living, and participants of youth programs in general tend to have higher graduation rates and are more likely to attend college.

“Every youth program of the Department relies heavily upon dedicated volunteers willing to contribute time and skills for conducting essential functions of the programs. What motivates these selfless volunteers is an innate desire to give back to their communities and to help nurture those young Americans whose impressions of this country are still developing. The aftermath of numerous events throughout the nation involving the sexual molestation of youth by a trusted authority figure has served to prominently illustrate the need for, and importance of, protecting the welfare of vulnerable populations, such as minor children, as well as the need for protection from liability of those organizations and volunteers that serve them.

“While The American Legion, Department of Indiana has the utmost trust and confidence in its staff and volunteers, the need for implementing such measures is a stark manifestation unfortunately reflective of today’s social reality. Any organization entrusted with the safety and welfare of youth must mitigate its overall risk and liability, and that of its participants and volunteers, by taking measures aimed at sustaining program integrity and safety.

“To that end, the Department of Indiana requires all program volunteers, who may have one on one contact with a participant of any Department sponsored and conducted youth program, to successfully pass a background check and successfully complete a child abuse training class.”

Commander Mark Gullion, The American Legion, Department of Indiana

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Attachments:

[looking4justice]

This is good-we should forever memorialize these scumbags' names online so they can never scrub their sicko past.

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American Legion deputy director among 11 jailed in Indiana child solicitation sting
Lawrence Andrea
Indianapolis Star

An American Legion deputy director who oversees programming involving youths across the country was among 11 men arrested in a child solicitation sting out of Johnson County last week, the organization confirmed to IndyStar Tuesday.

Jeff Hendricks, 49, of Unionville,

is facing preliminary suspicion of child solicitation and resisting law enforcement charges after he agreed to meet and have sex with who he believed was a 14-year-old girl in Greenwood on May 10, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. The 14-year-old girl was actually a team of undercover agents, and Hendricks was arrested at the planned meeting spot.

An American Legion spokesperson on Tuesday told IndyStar that Hendricks is the deputy director of the Americanism division in the organization's national office, which is based in Indianapolis. Hendricks was put on administrative leave early Tuesday afternoon before being fired hours later.

"The seriousness of these allegations cannot be overstated," the organization said in a statement. "We will fully support the investigation and judicial process as it moves forward."

The Americanism division oversees programming related to the American spirit and patriotism, according to a spokesperson, and includes youth programs. Minutes from a Spring 2021 organization meeting indicate Hendricks has participated in conferences related to youth education and youth law enforcement cadets.

Hendricks' LinkedIn page claims he's been a deputy director with the organization since February 2018. He wrote in his job description that he manages a portfolio of national programs "that serve over a million youths nationwide."

Hendricks and 10 other men were arrested last week by investigators in Johnson County who posed as minors online. Detectives as part of the sting creating fake profiles on websites, making it “very clear” the profile is for a minor, Johnson County sheriff's officials said. The suspects messaged the profiles and traveled to meet who they believed were underage teenagers.


The case against Hendricks began on Reddit, when the man responded to a post from undercover detectives advertising an "Indiana Hookup," according to a probable cause affidavit.

Detectives in messages through the website told Hendricks they were a 14-year-old girl and asked the man to bring condoms. He agreed, according to the affidavit. In messages, investigators said, Hendricks talked about fantasies and said he has "helped girls bring them to life no matter how twisted or perverted." He also said he enjoys sex and "teaching."

Hendricks was arrested in Greenwood while attempting to meet the 14-year-old, the affidavit indicates. After being lured into a house by a police decoy, he was confronted by officers and handcuffed after a brief struggle.

Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess on Tuesday told IndyStar his office was not aware any of the other men arrested work with children or hold public office.

Hendricks told jail booking officials he was self-employed, Burgess said.

Formal charges have yet to be filed in connection to the solicitation sting. An attorney for Hendricks could not be found Tuesday.

Contact Lawrence Andrea at 317-775-4313 or [e-mail]. Follow him on Twitter @lawrencegandrea.

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Men ranging in age from 19 to 49 from as far away as Greentown and as close by as Greenwood messaged the child. After an exchange with the child and with awareness that the child is underage, they arranged to meet up with them last week, Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said in a statement on the operation.

Police found the men were willing to travel a great distance to meet up with a person they believed was 14, Burgess said. The Greentown man traveled more than two hours to meet the child, while men from Sharpsville and Anderson drove more than one hour.


Several men provided nude photos of themselves to the child and asked the child to send photos. One man had a gun on his person when planning to meet the child and two others had drugs on them, according to court documents filed last week.

The men also brought presents for the child such as a drink they bought at a nearby convenience store. Others brought items like condoms, sex toys and personal lubricant, which showed police their intent to have sex with the child, court documents show.


The following men were arrested during the child solicitation sting:

Jeff Hendricks, 49, of Unionville, charged with child solicitation and resisting law enforcement. Traveled 41 miles, 54 minutes to meet the child.

Samual N. Kaufman, 20, of Bloomington, charged with child solicitation. Traveled 39 miles, 46 minutes to meet the child.

Joshua L. Sliter, 30, of Greentown, charged with child solicitation and providing pornography to minors. Traveled 113 miles, two hours and 11 minutes to meet the child.

Derick O. Sosa, 19, of Indianapolis, charged with child solicitation and resisting law enforcement. Traveled 14 miles, 30 minutes to meet the child.

Jason A. Thornton, 40, of Indianapolis, charged with child solicitation, possession of methamphetamine, habitual traffic violator – lifetime suspension, illegal possession of a firearm and forgery. Traveled 14 miles, 31 minutes to meet the child.

Francisco B. Amaya Marquez, 25, of Indianapolis, charged with child solicitation. Traveled 16 miles, 24 minutes to meet the child.

Dylan C. Muncy, 22, of Indianapolis, charged with providing pornography to minors. Traveled 17 miles, 33 minutes to meet the child.

Chase M. Reese, 30, of McCordsville, charged with child solicitation and providing pornography to minors. Traveled 30 miles, 54 minutes to meet the child.

Nicholas Sorley, 22, of Sharpsville, charged with child solicitation. Traveled 61 miles, one hour and 16 minutes to meet the child.

James W. Thomas II, 35, of Greenwood, charged with child solicitation and possession of marijuana. Traveled three miles, seven minutes to meet the child.

Dustin Ussery, 35, of Anderson, charged with child solicitation. Traveled 55 miles, one hour and 12 minutes to meet the child.