CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Six people face charges in relation to a human trafficking investigation in Carbondale.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau arrested the six suspects during a two-day operation.
The arrests came on May 22 and 23.
Police said the human trafficking enforcement operation was focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts.
The six suspects arrested all face Indecent Solicitation of a Child (Class 3 Felony), Traveling to Meet a Child (Class 3 Felony), and Solicitation to Meet a Child (Class 4 Felony).
The suspects arrested are as follows...
- Marlin Kellum, 28 of Murphysboro, Illinois
- Charles Kemp, 46 of West Frankfort, Illinois
- Kyler McGee, 23 of Anna, Illinois
- Justin Phoenix, 29 of Shiloh, Illinois
- Scott Strudwick, 35 of Murphysboro, Illinois
- Robert Wilson, 32 of Carbondale, Illinois
This operation was part of a multifaceted approach by ISP aimed at stopping human trafficking in Illinois. Participating in the operation with ISP were the ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois Enforcement Group, ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois Drug Task Force, Centralia Police Department, and Salem Police Department. The Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office also provided support for the operation and filed the above mentioned charges.
is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts, labor, or services against their will. ISP continues its multifaceted approach toward protecting those most vulnerable with its ongoing statewide human trafficking enforcement operations. The signs of human trafficking can be subtle; to learn more, please visit .
If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit . You can also email [email protected]. - Illinois State Police