GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Kevin Scott Konen, 52, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, was sentenced for sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children, and for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today. Konen was sentenced to 380 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay fines and other monetary penalties.

          U.S. District Judge Gordon Quist observed at the sentencing hearing that Konen led a double life – one that was of an upstanding family man and member of the community, and a second secret life. That secret life preyed on children and exploited them for his sexual interests. Konen used online persona to perpetrate his scheme. He used the alias "Jenny Mays" on Facebook and other social media, whereby he pretended to be a high school girl and befriended girls and boys in order to manipulate and encourage them to take sexually explicit images of themselves. Konen also used the alias of "Alyssa Pietrzak" to aggressively extort minors and demand that they send him sexual images under the threat that such person would send compromising pictures to the victims’ family and friends. Another ruse involved directing the victims to contact "Denny Ha," on the representation that he could help the victims remove their pictures from internet websites, but to do so "Denny Ha" needed user names and passwords for their accounts. Once he had access to the accounts, Konen would search the victims’ accounts for compromising pictures.

          At the sentencing hearing, one of his victims addressed the court and described the deep sense of betrayal she suffered. She described her loss of trust and the resultant questioning of friendships and personal relationships. Judge Quist further observed that Konen’s conduct also victimized Konen’s own family.

          This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

          This case was investigated by the FBI, Michigan State Police, and the Grand Ledge Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru.

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          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Kevin Scott Konen, 52, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children, and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Gordon J. Quist has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Konen will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a combined maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment, restitution, fines, and other penalties.

          Konen used various persona and schemes on social media to cause and attempt to cause minors to take sexually explicit images of themselves. Konen used the alias "Jenny Mays" on Facebook and other social media and pretended to be a high school girl and befriended girls and boys. Using the "Jenny Mays" alias, Konen manipulated minors and then encouraged them to take sexually explicit images of themselves. Konen also used the alias of "Alyssa Pietrzak" to contact minors. Using this persona, Konen aggressively extorted minors and demanded that they send him sexual images or "Alyssa Pietrzak" would send compromising pictures to the victim’s family and friends. Another ruse involved directing the victims to contact "Denny Ha" who could help the victims remove their pictures from internet websites, but to do so "Denny Ha" needed user names and passwords for their accounts. Once he had access to the accounts, Konen would search the victims’ accounts for compromising pictures.

          Konen operated this scheme from 2011 to 2018 and had communications with numerous minors in Eaton County, Michigan, and others outside the state. Persons who believe that they or someone they know may have been a victim of this scheme should call the FBI at (313) 965- 4540.

          This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

          This case is being investigated by the FBI, Michigan State Police, and the Grand Ledge Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru.

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