(BOZEMAN) One of the seven people arrested for soliciting sex for money pleaded guilty to prostitution in court on Friday morning.
A Montana State University group that fights human trafficking says these arrests will help curb the industry of sex trafficking.
“Approaching the demand side of the equation is aimed at reducing the number of people who aim to buy sex,” said Emma Folkerts with HEART Initiative, an MSU group aimed at raising awareness of and fighting human trafficking.
She says the HEART Initiative is also involved with the Gallatin County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, citing three committees within the task force as prevention, protection, and prosecution.
Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin says the operation that led to the arrest of the seven men in Bozeman was a collaborative effort with the Bozeman Police Department and the US Department of Homeland Security.
The men were arrested after responding to online prostitution ads and meeting at a hotel for the sex. The ads were not real, and there was no sex.
“It’s something we didn’t use to have to worry about until internet, social media, and now it’s happening,” said Sheriff Gootkin.
(AUGUST 30, 2018) Seven people have been arrested in an operation that targeted human trafficking in Gallatin County.
The following people were booked into the Gallatin County Detention Center:
- Calvin F. Bender of Gallatin County
- Cody M. Umland of Gallatin County
- Mark A. Steed of Gallatin County
- Matthew J. Maus of Gallatin County
- Shannon J. Rodman of Gallatin County
- Travis M. Staker of Gallatin County
- John C. Sanders of Lewis & Clark County
They are facing initial charges for the crime of prostitution after they allegedly responded to advertisements posted on websites often frequented for facilitating sexual contacts.
According to law enforcement officials, the operation focused on targeting demand for illicit sexual contact.
During the operation, the advertisement received more than 50 inquiries for various sexual acts. On the day of the operation, numerous “dates” were scheduled. Customers – commonly referred to as “johns” – arrived at the agreed-upon location and met with an undercover law enforcement officer who posed as the trafficking victim.
According to the press release, Gallatin County law enforcement officers will continue to focus their efforts to thwart trafficking throughout the county and state through joint investigative operations. These operations focus on both the demand for such services and the human traffickers exploiting young men and women.
If you have information regarding trafficking operations or victims of human trafficking, you are encouraged to call the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 406-582-2121, the Bozeman Police Department at Policetips@bozeman.net, or the Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-373-7888. You may be eligible for a reward through Crime Stoppers for information that leads to the successful prosecution of criminal acts.
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