A sting operation involving a newly formed internet crimes against children task force, which led to the recent arrest of five individuals, originated in Door County. The task force made up of investigators from Brown, Door & Kewaunee Counties, with help from the State Department of Criminal Investigations, US Marshals & the US Attorney’s Office, posted a message on Craigslist indicating that a 14 year old girl was interested in sex for money. Door County investigator Jim Valley, who coordinated the effort, said the response was a shocker…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/N1607.mp3|titles=Investigator Jim Valley]
Valley noted that in a 30 minute period during the three day sting operation, 40 people answered the ad. He said the investigators had difficulty keeping up at times…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/N1608.mp3|titles=Investigator Jim Valley]
The arrests included three individuals in Brown County, one in Door County & another in Marathon County. Valley said the 41 year old man arrested in Door County traveled from Dallas, Texas, hoping to meet a 15 year old girl…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/N1609.mp3|titles=Investigator Jim Valley]
Valley said Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel played a key role in the formation of the internet crimes against children task force. He said the Brown County Sheriff’s Department provided the manpower that led to the success of the operation at the justice center.
