News Releases

Michigan man arrested on child porn charges
5 children rescued as a result of ongoing investigation

DETROIT - A Redford, Mich., man was arrested Thursday on receipt, production and distribution of child pornography following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Steven Demink, 41, was arrested by HSI special agents at his workplace in Waterford on Thursday without incident. According to the investigation, Demink created a phony Internet identity to meet women online who had children. Once he began regular communication with these women, he would then entice them to take and share explicit photographs of themselves abusing their children sexually, which he would subsequently share via the web.

In September, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Demink's home finding hundreds of images and videos of suspected child pornography. HSI was able to positively identify several of the children who were subjects in the content and remove them from their homes. Names of the children and their parents are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing.

As a result of this investigation, a total five children in various states have been rescued from dangerous environments.

"HSI special agents are committed to protecting our children from sexual exploitation regardless of the source, be it an online predator or a trusted family member," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Detroit. "We will continue to aggressively pursue and hold accountable individuals involved in this vile behavior."

Demink was employed as a used car salesman at the time of his arrest.

This investigation is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.