Man sentenced after being convicted of sex trafficking 5 young people in Chicago, Lansing

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.

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It started in Lansing. 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 say they were able to determine that the suspect 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 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 looking at human trafficking networks and try to identify them and disrupt them with our local partners."

Both Dougherty and Hynek say human trafficking hinges on coercion, control and violence and is rampant. Over the past five years, federal, state and local law enforcement 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, Dennis Williams was manipulating those five young people, forcing them to perform sex acts in Lansing and Chicago for his financial gain. The survivors 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 say grooming for sex trafficking now often starts online. Parents should watch for changes to their children's behavior. They say knowing who they're talking to is vital.

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 to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 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.