Anthony Spetoskey, age 35, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced on May 5. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker described Spetoskey’s conduct as “about as egregious as I have seen.”
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address online crimes targeting children and protect vulnerable victims both in the United States and abroad.
VerHey said, “Spetosky is an internet predator based in Grand Rapids who trolled for underage girls around the world to psychologically coerce them into doing themselves psychological and physical harm. He did this to make money, but also because he considered it fun. But while he was hunting for his victims, we were hunting for him. No one will see Spetosky on our streets for the next 30 years because he will be in prison, where he belongs, thanks to the hard work of federal law enforcement. Others like Spetosky should take note—we are coming for you too.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) London alerted HSI Grand Rapids in October 2024 about a suspect involved in sextortion and distribution of child pornography potentially located in West Michigan. After extensive investigation, agents identified Spetoskey despite his efforts to hide his identity online and obscure his location. Operating under various aliases including “NoLimits,” Spetoskey ran a Telegram group that coerced underage girls into producing exploitative material involving self-harm and claimed responsibility for more than 250 victims over five years.
“This sentencing demonstrates the steadfast commitment of HSI to protect children from exploitation, no matter where offenders operate or how they attempt to conceal their crimes,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This investigation is a testament to the power of international collaboration, with HSI Grand Rapids, HSI London and foreign law enforcement working side-by-side to identify and apprehend a predator who targeted vulnerable victims both in the United States and abroad.”
The case was investigated by HSI Grand Rapids and HSI London with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Constance Turnbull.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006—designed to combat child sexual exploitation using federal resources at all levels; more information can be found at www.justice.gov/PSC.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes federal crimes such as this case while managing civil litigation on behalf of the United States; it employs about 70 staff members across several offices serving one of the largest law enforcement areas with approximately 1.6 million residents according to the official website.
