Grand Rapids Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Exploiting Minors

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Anthony Spetoskey, age 35, of Grand Rapids. was sentenced to 360 months for sexual exploitation of a child. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker described his conduct as “about as egregious as I have seen.”

U.S. Attorney 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.”

In October 2024, HSI London advised HSI Grand Rapids that a subject involved in the sextortion of minor girls and the distribution of child pornography may be located in West Michigan. As a result of extensive investigative work, HSI Grand Rapids agents ultimately identified Spetoskey as that subject, despite his methodical attempts to conceal his identity online, evade detection, and obscure his location.

Spetoskey operated online under the identifier “NoLimits” and used a number of other names across various accounts. He ran a Telegram group used to coerce victims, including underage girls, into producing exploitative material, some of which involved self-harm. He bragged about his actions to online users and claimed responsibility for more than 250 victims over a five-year period. Spetoskey’s victims were located in the U.S. and overseas.

“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.”

HSI Grand Rapids and HSI London investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Constance Turnbull prosecuted it.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/PSC.