James Thomas Gersky, Child Exploitation, Michigan 2015

Grand Rapids, MI - A Michigan man has been found guilty of child exploitation charges after a lengthy investigation and trial.

James Thomas Gersky, 33, pleaded guilty on October 25, 2015, to conspiracy to produce child pornography and conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography.

The charges stem from an investigation that revealed Gersky and several co-conspirators used a website to target and sexually exploit underage girls. The website was password-protected and only allowed vetted individuals to become members.

Between July 2014 and April 2015, Gersky and his co-conspirators identified social media profiles of girls, including those younger than 13, and convinced them to engage in sexually explicit activity via live web camera.

Typically, Gersky and his co-conspirators streamed pre-recorded videos of other underage girls engaging in similar conduct to trick the girls into believing they were watching a live video of someone their own age.

Using peer-pressure, the members convinced the victims to engage in sexually explicit activity, which was then recorded and shared with other members of the website.

To date, 87 victims from 28 states and Canada have been positively identified in connection with the case.

Gersky's co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty to various charges, including Jonathan Cripe, 28, of Imperial, Missouri; Sean Ellis, 43, of Kennesaw, Georgia; Steven Fox, 39, of Elkridge, Maryland; Michael Augustin, 44, of Fort Collins, Colorado; Dejan Becovic, 24, of West Vallen City, Utah; Brandon Gressette, 33, of Summerville, South Carolina; and Jonathan Soto, 27, of Branchburg, New Jersey.

The FBI is investigating the case, and trial attorneys Lauren Britsch and Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Secor are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Gersky's sentencing has not been made public at this time, but his co-conspirators have received various sentences, including Becovic, who was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the scheme.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/michigan-man-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-sexually-exploit-dozens-minor-girls