The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department conducted the operation in Dickinson County from Oct. 8 through Oct. 12. The sheriff’s department was assisted by Iron Mountain Police Department, Kingsford Public Safety, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Niagara Police Department, and Menominee County Sheriff’s Department, along with journalist Chris Hansen and his production crew from TruBlu Network, according to a news release Wednesday from the Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Charged were:

— David Anthony Bailey, 45, of Green Bay;

— Kelsey Lee Burbank, 29, of Kingsford;

Kelsey Burbank

— John Charles Coughlin, 61, of Iron Mountain;

— Nicholas Jon Krackenberger, 29, of Iron Mountain;

— Joseph Scott Peters, 41, of Green Bay;

— Guy Andre Ruder, 51, of Tomahawk; and

— Dennis Walter Zuem, 65, of Iron Mountain.

John Coughlin

Each has been charged with:

— Child sexually abusive activity, a felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or $100,000 fine. A conviction of this offense also carries requirements to register as a sex offender under the Michigan Sex Offender Registration Act.

— Use of a computer to commit child sexually abusive activity, a felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or $20,000 fine. This charge carries with it the possibility of consecutive sentence that is within the discretion of the sentencing court.

— Use of a computer to commit accosting a child for immoral purposes, a felony with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and/or $5,000 fine. This charge carries with it the possibility of consecutive sentence as well.

— Children — accosting for immoral purposes, a felony with a maximum penalty of four years in prison and/or $4,000 fine. A conviction of this offense also carries requirements to register as a sex offender.

Nicholas Krackenberger

No further details were provided on the operation or investigation.

In the news release, the prosecuting attorney’s office extended its thanks to all agencies involved, as well as to Hansen and his team, for “their hard work and dedication in this operation.”

“This operation was the first of its kind in Dickinson County and its success is attributed to the outstanding team of law enforcement personnel who participated and assisted in this operation,” the news release states.

The prosecutor’s office stressed that suspicious activity should be reported immediately to local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting “HELP” to 233733.

The prosecutor’s office also noted the individuals named have not been convicted and all are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Joseph Peters

Guy Ruder

Dennis Zuern