A 38-year-old Centralia man is one of five who have been arrested by Illinois State Police in an anti-human trafficking operation in the Effingham area.
38-year-old Scott Grote was charged with solicitation of a sexual act following the January 25th operation that focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts.
Others arrested included 38-year-old Daniel Bennett of Bethany, IL for indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child, and solicitation to meet a child. 32-year-old Justin Covey of Irvine, Kentucky, 71-year-old David Hackett of Tuscola, and 50-year-old Thad White of Cowden were all charged with solicitation of a sexual act.
State Police say this operation was part of a multifaceted approach aimed at stopping human trafficking in Illinois. Also participating in the operation were the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, ISP DCI Zone 6 and Zone 8, ISP SWAT, ISP Intelligence Support Unit, ISP Troop 9, Central Illinois Enforcement Group, Effingham Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office also provided support for the operation.
If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email ISP.Crime.Tips@illinois.gov.
