An investigation by HSI exposes Michigan man’s attempts to sexually exploit children

#HSI; #ICE; #ChildExploitation; #DHS; #USLawEnforcement

Michigan (US)/Canadian-Media: An investigation Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Vance R. Callender in Charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio announced that in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working with federal, state, and local law enforcement, resulted in multiple state child exploitation charges against a Sault Ste Marie man, William David Brice, 42.

ICE. Image credit: Twitter handle

On October 3 Brice was arrested and charged with ten felony counts, including production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material and as well as accosting a child for immoral purposes.

“HSI works with its domestic and international partners around the clock to protect children from victimization by predators involved with the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material,” said Callender.

According to court documents, this investigation began in May, when during an interview with HSI, a juvenile alleged that a registered sex offender from South Carolina, arranged online for Brice to engage in sex with her at a local motel when she was only 16 years old.

After producing evidence that Brice used Kik Messenger to download child sexual abusive material and Facebook Messenger and Snapchat to communicate with the minor victim, an undercover HSI agent communicated with Brice, posing as underage girls. In response, Brice tried to lure the girls to a hotel for sex.

Brice was arraigned by the 91st District Court and is being held in the Chippewa County Jail in Sault Ste Marie, on a $250,000 bond awaiting a preliminary examination currently scheduled for October 21.

“The Sault Ste. Marie Police Department is very supportive of HSI and their efforts to help keep the children of our community, safe. We are thankful for the opportunity to participate in this investigation and look forward to future collaborations,” said Sault Ste Marie Police Chief Wesley Bierling.

Besides HSI, this investigation was assisted by the Sault Ste Marie Police Department, Michigan State Police, Upper Peninsula Substance Abuse Enforcement Team, and the Office of the Border Patrol.

This case is being prosecuted by the Chippewa County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.