GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Dustyn Wayne Olmstead, 31, of Vermontville, Michigan, has admitted to a depraved scheme of sexually exploiting vulnerable children. The predator pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children, along with distributing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge.
Olmstead’s crimes involved the calculated use of text-messaging services to groom and manipulate multiple minors. Among his victims were a 13-year-old girl from Allegan County and a 14-year-old girl from Ottawa County. He preyed on their innocence, coercing one girl into sending him explicit images of herself and attempting to do the same to the other.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior designed to desensitize his victims. Olmstead sent a video depicting a young girl, approximately 9 years old, engaged in a sex act with an adult male – a callous attempt to normalize exploitation. He actively sought out and communicated with numerous individuals he *believed* were children, demonstrating the scope of his predatory actions. Authorities urge anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been victimized by Olmstead to immediately contact the FBI at (616) 456-5489.
This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to protecting children from the horrors of online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in concert with county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), and a broad coalition of federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement to bring predators like Olmstead to justice.
Olmstead now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years behind bars. Upon sentencing, scheduled for December 1, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker, he could receive a combined maximum of 50 years’ imprisonment, in addition to restitution, fines, and other penalties. This prosecution sends a clear message: those who prey on children will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, operating as part of the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (WEBCHEX). Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru is prosecuting the case. For more information on Project Safe Childhood and resources to protect children, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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