Three St. Louis Area Men Arrested and Charged with Sex Trafficking of Children
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 30, 2009 |
ST. LOUIS, MO—James Patrick Grady was arrested on federal complaint charging him with attempted sex trafficking of children, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.
According to the affidavit filed with the complaint earlier today of Grady, on July 29, 2009, law enforcement officers and agents were involved in an undercover operation investigating subjects who attempt to purchase children, or their services, for commercial sex in the Eastern District of Missouri. The same day, officers received an e-mail in response to an Internet advertisement that had been placed by law enforcement working in the undercover capacity. The advertisement indicated that young females of an indeterminate age were available. The e-mail was from James Patrick Grady, seeking more information regarding the ad, and was informed that there were two females. In the course of the e-mails, Grady received a digitally morphed photograph of a 16-year-old female. Grady inquired about the cost of the child depicted and was given a price for a half-hour and for one hour. Grady indicated that he wanted a half-hour and was told that the girl was 16 years old. He indicated that was fine and set up a meeting. Upon arriving at the agreed upon location, Grady met an undercover officer, and asked to see the girls. He became suspicious and attempted to leave the house and was arrested. He admitted that he did send the e-mails and came to the house because he was curious. He also indicated that he was employed as a priest.
JAMES PATRICK GRADY, St. Louis, was charged in a federal complaint with one violation of Title 18, Sections 1591 and 1594, attempted sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion. He was arrested early this morning by FBI agents and St. Louis County and Maryland Heights Police officers.
Grady is the third person charged as a result of this undercover operation.
MATTHEW S. NICHOL, St. Charles County, was indicted July 16, by a federal grand jury on two felony counts of attempted sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion.
DAVID P. HAWKEY, Florissant, was charged earlier this week in a federal complaint with one violation of the same charge.
If convicted, this charge carries a penalty range of 10 years to life in prison and/or fines up to $500,000.
The charges set forth in a complaint and/or indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.