(Washington County) The Washington County Sheriff’s Office participated in an international investigation this week that led to the busting of a human trafficking ring in the Philippines.
Thirty-five-year-old Michael Westphal of West Bend is facing 24 counts of possession of Child Pornography and one count of Trafficking of a Child. He’s being held in the Washington County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.
The investigation revealed Westphal was reportedly sending money to a child sex trafficker in the Philippines in exchange for child porn. Westphal was allegedly planning a trip to the Philippines to meet the trafficker and the trafficker’s victim – a small child.
The international investigation culminated Monday in the Phlippines when a raid was conducted which resulted in the arrest of three human traffickers and the rescuing of six children ranging from ages two to fifteen. Among them was Westphal’s alleged victim. Those suspects will face charges in the Philippines.
