CHICAGO (WLS) – Dennis Williams was sentenced this month to 28 years in federal prison for violently sex trafficking five young people, including a 15-year-old girl. He kidnapped two of them. The FBI and Lansing police laid the groundwork to lock him up.
It all started in Lansing, where police were responding to reports of violence. “Once we started looking into the cases, we were able to quickly determine that it was more than just a battery or a robbery, that these female victims were being sex trafficked,” Lansing Deputy Chief of Police Mike Hynek told the I-Team.
As the Lansing police investigation unfolded, investigators determined that the suspect involved in the trafficking was the same person. Hynek brought in the FBI to assist with the case.
“They went through an extremely traumatic experience. The victims were coerced into this in a variety of means. Some were befriended by the subject. Once they were in, they were forced to endure awful, awful circumstances. And the subject utilized violence and threats to make sure they continued to act in this sex ring,” said John Dougherty, FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Chicago Field Division.
“We work on criminal enterprise cases and look at human trafficking networks to identify and disrupt them with our local partners,” Dougherty added.
Both Dougherty and Hynek emphasize that human trafficking hinges on coercion, control, and violence and is rampant. Over the past five years, federal, state, and local law enforcement have reported nearly 13,000 sex trafficking cases to the FBI. There were more than 2,600 cases in 2025 alone, according to FBI data.
SEE ALSO: Chicago man convicted of sex trafficking 15-year-old girl at Lansing motel: officials
During their investigation, authorities discovered that Dennis Williams was manipulating these five young people, forcing them to perform sex acts in Lansing and Chicago for his financial gain. The survivors bravely testified against Williams in open court.
“Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to secure the conviction and get the sentencing that was ultimately handed out,” Hynek said.
“If it wasn’t for the bravery of the victims, these cases would never get solved,” Dougherty told the I-Team.
The FBI and Lansing police warn that grooming for sex trafficking now often starts online. Parents are urged to watch for changes in their children’s behavior and to know who they are talking to online.
Report Trafficking and Get Help
If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a suspected trafficking crime, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available 24/7 to answer calls from anywhere in the country.
You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.
If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information provided to the CyberTipline.
