Monroe County sheriff tells House Oversight committee VIPER task force has investigated 55 exploitation cases, cites prosecution and shelter gaps

Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodenough told the House Oversight Committee on Homeland Security and Foreign Influence that his VIPER — Violent Internet Predator and Exploitation Response — Task Force has investigated 55 internet‑facilitated exploitation and trafficking cases since the unit launched in July 2021, but said prosecutions remain difficult because victims often decline to testify.

The sheriff said 10 of the 55 investigations were handled as human‑trafficking probes and roughly 45 were child‑exploitation or child‑solicitation cases; of the trafficking investigations, he said one case produced a human‑trafficking charge. He described a recent local investigation that uncovered three Asian women living and working in the back of a storefront, where officers seized more than $30,000 in cash.

Why it matters: Goodenough told lawmakers trafficking appears across Michigan communities — sometimes hidden in legitimate businesses or seasonal labor — and that gaps in survivor services and investigative tools limit successful prosecution. He urged state legislators to consider funding shelter capacity and survivor‑centered programs and warned that restrictions on investigative access to phones, encrypted apps and cryptocurrency tracking make it harder to develop evidence.

Goodenough briefed the committee on how traffickers operate and how VIPER works. He described common trafficking tactics — psychological coercion, grooming, isolation, control of identity documents, and the use of hotels and short‑term rentals — and listed signs that community members and first responders can watch for, including lack of personal possessions, restricted movement, scripted answers and visible control by another individual.

Operational details and partnerships The sheriff said VIPER is staffed by a permanent county detective and a Monroe City Public Safety detective and that the task force brings in Michigan State Police, FBI and other federal partners as needed for undercover or multi‑jurisdictional operations. He said the unit can use online platforms and apps to reach dozens of individuals in a few hours during proactive operations.

Goodenough summarized the task force’s outcomes: 55 total investigations, 10 worked as trafficking investigations, one trafficking charge, and about 45 child exploitation/solicitation cases. He told the committee that prosecutions often depend on victims willing to testify and that traffickers’ control and coercion frequently prevent witnesses from cooperating.

Barriers to prosecution and investigative tools Lawmakers and the sheriff discussed technological and evidentiary challenges. Goodenough said trends include the use of cryptocurrency for payments and the limits imposed by legal and technical barriers to examining phones and online accounts. He told the committee that while search warrants remain a tool, investigators face added procedural steps when data is encrypted or when additional warrants are needed for new discoveries.

Shelter, treatment and re‑entry needs Goodenough told legislators that survivors frequently return to traffickers several times before accepting help and urged the creation or funding of survivor‑specific housing and services separate from existing domestic‑violence shelters. He said Monroe County offers treatment and post‑release supports inside the county jail and that those programs have reduced recidivism: a mental‑health program in the jail cut recidivism for seriously mentally ill inmates by about 37 percent, he said. He also described harm‑reduction steps in his county, including offering Narcan kits to every inmate released and placing a Narcan vending machine in the sheriff’s office lobby.

Labor trafficking, seasonal work and cross‑border issues Goodenough said labor trafficking occurs in agriculture and other industries that use seasonal workers, including H‑2A guest workers, and that illegal labor can undercut businesses that follow legal hiring and housing rules. He noted a local large produce farm brings hundreds of H‑2A workers and that some operators pay illegally contracted workers far less, creating competitive and public‑safety issues.

Immigration detention and 287(g) Committee members asked about Monroe County’s ICE facility. Goodenough said the county had roughly seven ICE detainees before Jan. 1 of the year and that the number rose to about 154 at the time of his testimony; he said the increase strains jail operations and resources. On the federal 287(g) program that deputizes local officers for immigration enforcement, he said the county declined to enroll because the program’s second phase would require the county to fund a six‑figure position and dedicate deputies to duties the county would otherwise need for routine operations. He said the county already hosts an ICE detention officer five days a week under an intergovernmental service agreement.

Narcotics and co‑occurring behavioral health disorders Goodenough also outlined local drug trends, saying fentanyl deaths have declined in recent months while methamphetamine use is rising. He described multi‑pronged local efforts — treatment, naloxone distribution, education, and targeted enforcement — that he credited with reducing overdose deaths.

Committee response and next steps Committee members thanked the sheriff and pressed for more detail on VIPER operations, how other agencies collaborate, and state‑level steps to support survivor housing and investigative capacity. Goodenough asked for legislative support to expand survivor services and for funding that would enable counties to assign personnel to sustained anti‑trafficking work without diverting deputies from patrol duties.

The sheriff closed by encouraging committee members to share trafficking signs with constituents and stressed that trafficking can occur in communities that do not immediately appear affected.

Ending Lawmakers signaled interest in following up on Goodenough’s recommendations. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the presentation; the session proceeded to other business after questions.