Michigan man charged in Indianapolis with transporting minor for sex

INDIANAPOLIS - A Michigan man was charged on Monday with traveling in inter-state commerce intending to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett, Southern District of Indiana. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Indiana State Police, and Michigan State Police.

The complaint alleges that late in the evening on Jan. 10, 2010, Daniel Feneis, 24, from Sears, Mich., and a 14-year-old girl identified as Jane Doe in the complaint, left Michigan together and intending to start "a new life" in St. Louis, Mo. Feneis and Jane Doe had been involved in a sexual relationship in Michigan for about six months. The complaint further alleges that the two engaged in sex acts in Indiana.

Following an investigation by Michigan and Indiana authorities, Feneis and Jane Doe were found together in a hotel room at the Days Inn in Terre Haute, Ind., within the Southern District of Indiana, less than 24 hours after Feneis transported Jane Doe out of Michigan.

Feneis faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Following a hearing on Jan. 25, 2011, Feneis was ordered detained pending disposition of this case before a U.S. District Court.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

A Complaint t is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Brant Cook, Southern District of Indiana, is prosecuting this case.