Andrew Danny Freeman, Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Missouri 2016

A Kansas City man is facing federal charges in a brazen attempt to buy sex from a child, authorities announced today. Andrew Danny Freeman, 32, of Kansas City, Mo., was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, replacing a criminal complaint filed Dec. 16, 2016. The indictment stems from a sting operation that caught Freeman red-handed trying to exploit a girl he believed was just 12 years old.

According to court documents, Freeman responded to an online ad set up as part of an undercover prostitution investigation. On Dec. 15, 2016, he exchanged a series of text messages with an undercover agent posing as the mother of a minor. In the messages, Freeman made explicit arrangements to meet the woman and her purported 12-year-old daughter at a local Kansas City hotel for a sexual encounter.

The plan unraveled the moment Freeman arrived. Surveillance teams watched as he handed over $500 in cash to the undercover officer—money he believed would secure access to the child. Within moments, agents moved in and placed him under arrest. No minor was ever in danger; the operation was coordinated entirely by law enforcement to catch predators seeking to exploit children.

The affidavit supporting the original complaint details how Freeman initiated contact, discussed the child’s age, and confirmed his intent to pay for sex. His communications left little doubt about his motive or understanding of the victim’s age. Federal prosecutors say the evidence paints a clear picture of a man who actively pursued and attempted to purchase a child for prostitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Daly is prosecuting the case, which was investigated jointly by the FBI and the Human Trafficking Rescue Project. Freeman remains in federal custody without bond as the case moves toward trial. U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson emphasized that the indictment is an allegation, and Freeman is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program combines federal, state, and local efforts to identify, rescue, and protect children from predators while aggressively prosecuting offenders. For more information, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

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