(WXYZ) -- Eleven men branded as internet predators by Michigan's attorney general have been caught in an online sting prowling for kids and hit with charges carrying a total of 298 years in prison.
"This internet predator sting was unique. Most focus only on those predators that travel. Not so with this project. If you solicit a child for sex, or send sexually graphic material to a youngster, you do not escape prosecution just because you never got off your couch," Cox said in a statement.
The sting involved officers posing online as minors. The attorney general's office was assisted in the case by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Van Buren Township Police Department.
CLICK SLIDESHOW TO SEE MUGSHOTSDetails on the men arrested:
1. Eraitt Austin. 46 years old. Centerline, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
2. Eric Cole. 23 years old. Chesterfield, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 4: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 5: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
3. Corey Dingman. 31 years old. Wayne, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
4. Patrick Hauler. 23 years old. Warren, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor.
4 year felony.
5. Eric Kaminskas. 21 years old. Hazel Park, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony.
6. David Smith. 61 years old. Homer, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 4: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & 2 Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 5: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 6: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
7. Timothy Arthur. 21 years old. Owosso, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
8. Joshua Fuhr. 21 years old. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 4: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 5: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony.
9. Jason Hughes. 25 years old. Westland, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
10. Gary Kapanowski. 39 years old. Warren, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Accosting & Soliciting a minor for immoral purpose. 10 year felony. Count 4: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 5: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
11. Scott Looney. 41 years old. Lansing, Michigan. Count 1: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 2: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime—Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 3: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony. Count 4: Communicating via the Internet to commit a crime— Dissemination of sexually explicit material to a minor. 4 year felony.
