Iowa Man Copped 30 Months for Sex Trafficking Sting

A 23-year-old Iowa man has been slammed with 30 months in federal prison for attempting to buy sex from a 15-year-old girl he believed was being trafficked—only to walk straight into a federal sting. Aaron Vandekamp of Lester, Iowa, was sentenced on February 9, 2017, by Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on charges of Attempted Trafficking in Involuntary Servitude and Forced Labor.

Vandekamp wasn’t just browsing—he was negotiating. After responding to an online ad planted by undercover agents from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, he began messaging someone he thought was connected to a minor. The ad claimed young girls were available for sex. He agreed to pay $150 for access to a 15-year-old, hashing out time, location, and logistics like a predator on a deal. Every keystroke sealed his fate.

The trap was set during the 2015 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a massive event long exploited by traffickers looking to cash in on chaos. Federal and state law enforcement flooded the area with undercover ops targeting men willing to pay for sex with children. Vandekamp was one of four men caught in the sweep—each believing they were arranging illicit encounters, but instead walking into handcuffs and federal indictments.

The operation was a violent crack at a growing underground market. Agencies involved included the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, Rapid City Police Department, and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office—all working in tandem to dismantle predator networks before real girls were harmed. The coordinated blitz underscored how digital solicitation is now a frontline battlefield in human trafficking enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted the case with no leniency. Vandekamp was handed 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Moments after sentencing, he was turned over to the U.S. Marshal’s Service—no appeals, no delay.

This case isn’t just about one man’s downfall. It’s a warning shot to others lurking in the shadows of the web, thinking they’re anonymous. Law enforcement is watching. They’re posing. And they’re ready to lock you up before you ever touch a victim. Aaron Vandekamp learned that the hard way.