The Decoy Project

The Decoy Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from online predators through proactive prevention, investigation, and education.

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

The Decoy Project Confirms Our 20th Arrest
Media Contact
The Decoy Project, Inc
Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://t.co/5PkL9GhXsK

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

The Decoy Project Confirms Our 19th Arrest
Media Contact
The Decoy Project, Inc
Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://t.co/5PkL9Givii

[CBS Detroit @CBSDetroit]

A Macomb County, Michigan, man is in custody in Texas for allegedly soliciting a minor online for sex. The arrest came after a nationwide nonprofit that works to protect children online provided information to local law enforcement.

https://t.co/Elp8Trp1hB

[KWKT FOX 44 @KWKTFOX44]

Michigan Man Arrested in Cameron Following Child Predator Sting https://t.co/2xQzktvGsz

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

PRESS RELEASE: The Decoy Project Confirms Arrest of Geevar K. Varghese Following 357-Day Online Investigation
Media Contact
The Decoy Project, Inc
Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://t.co/5PkL9GhXsK

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

🎉 ONE YEAR OF THE DECOY PROJECT 💙

One year ago, a mission became a movement.

What started with a commitment to helping protect children online has grown into a community of volunteers, supporters, partners, and advocates who believe in creating a safer digital world.

Over the past year, we've learned, grown, educated, raised awareness, and continued working to identify and report suspected online predators to the appropriate authorities.

None of this would be possible without the people who have supported our mission, volunteered their time, shared our content, donated, and believed in what we're building.

To our entire TDP community: thank you. 💙

One year down—and we're just getting started.

🛡️ A year of awareness. A future of protection.

AWARENESS. EDUCATION. PROTECTION.

#TheDecoyProject #OneYearAnniversary #OnlineSafety #ChildSafety #InternetSafety #ProtectChildren #OnlineAwareness #DigitalSafety #Nonprofit #CommunityImpact

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

Case Update: Craig A. Chesner Convicted
The Decoy Project has learned that Craig A. Chesner has been convicted in Cole County, Illinois on the following felony charges:

8 counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child/Internet (Class 4 Felonies)
1 count of Child Pornography – Possession of a Photo Depicting a Victim Under 13 (Class 2 Felony)
1 count of Child Pornography – Possession of Child Pornography (Film/Photos) (Class 3 Felony)

Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2026. We are grateful for the work of law enforcement, prosecutors, and everyone involved in bringing this case to this stage. Cases like this demonstrate the importance of continued collaboration to protect children from online exploitation. The Decoy Project remains committed to identifying online offenders, preserving evidence, and working with law enforcement agencies to help bring those who target children to justice. We will provide another update following the sentencing hearing. #TheDecoyProject #ProtectKids #ChildSafety #OnlineSafety #Justice @everyone

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

🚨 MYTH vs. FACT 🚨

MYTH: Predators are strangers hiding in dark alleys.

FACT: Many predators build trust first. They often appear friendly, relatable, and trustworthy, using manipulation and shared interests to gain a child's confidence before crossing boundaries.

Online grooming isn't always obvious—that's what makes it so dangerous.

The best protection is staying involved:
🛡️ Have regular conversations about online safety.
💬 Know who your child is talking to online.
👀 Encourage them to come to you if something ever feels off.
Awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep children safe online.
💙 Learn more about protecting your family at https://t.co/UbYRivTzkO

[WSYX ABC 6 @wsyx6]

Smith initiated contact with one of its adult decoys, who identified as a 13-year-old.
https://t.co/7Kic9cXmz3

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Decoy Project Assists FBI Investigation Resulting in Arrest of Texas Man

Texas — June 17, 2026
The Decoy Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to conducting ethical online decoy operations for the identification and reporting of online child predators, confirms its involvement in an investigation concerning David Lewis Haun (43) of Abilene, Texas.
The Decoy Project can confirm that on April 25, 2026, Haun contacted one of its decoys online while representing himself as a 43-year-old male from Texas. During the interaction, the decoy clearly identified as 13 years old and also from Texas.
According to evidence preserved by The Decoy Project, Haun allegedly engaged in inappropriate communications with the presumed minor through online messages and voice calls. During the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as David Lewis Haun of Abilene, Texas.
Following the review and preservation of evidence, The Decoy Project submitted the case and supporting documentation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The case prompted a swift response from FBI investigators in Texas. During the investigation, FBI personnel reviewed evidence provided by The Decoy Project and communicated multiple times with the decoy operator regarding the case materials and supporting documentation.
On June 16, 2026, David Lewis Haun was arrested by federal authorities in Texas. Authorities have indicated that criminal charges related to the investigation are forthcoming.
This arrest marks The Decoy Project's 14th arrest resulting from cases reported by the organization in less than 12 months. Since its formation, The Decoy Project has:

Reported more than 80 suspected predators to authorities

Maintains 38 active cases involving law enforcement agencies

Engaged with more than 2,000 suspected predators through ethical online decoy operations

Contributed to 14 arrests across the United States

Statement from The Decoy Project

"This case demonstrates the importance of ethical online decoy operations and the value of strong partnerships between nonprofit organizations and law enforcement agencies.

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Our mission is to identify individuals seeking to exploit children online, preserve evidence, and report credible cases through proper legal channels.

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We are not a vigilante organization. We do not expose individuals publicly. Our role is to document, preserve, and report so that trained law enforcement professionals can take appropriate action."
About The Decoy Project
The Decoy Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on:

Ethical online decoy operations
Identification and reporting of online predators
Evidence preservation for law enforcement
Public education on online child safety
All cases are reported to appropriate authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Disclaimer

The allegations and charges referenced in this release are based on information available at the time of publication. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Media Contact

The Decoy Project, Inc. [email protected]
https://t.co/SkpZZNgcYk

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

Grooming is a manipulative process where an individual builds trust with a child or vulnerable person in order to exploit, abuse, or manipulate them. It often starts with seemingly harmless conversations, gifts, compliments, or attention before gradually crossing boundaries.

Understanding what grooming looks like is one of the most important steps in protecting children online. The warning signs aren't always obvious, which is why awareness and open communication matter.

Knowledge is prevention. Learn the signs. Start the conversation. Stay informed.

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

Behind every number is a real child, a real family, and a real threat.

Online exploitation isn't a distant problem—it's happening every day across social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps used by millions of children.

Awareness is the first step toward prevention. Take a moment to review these statistics, start a conversation with your children, and help create a safer online environment for the next generation.

The more we know, the better we can protect.

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

The Decoy Project Investigation Leads to Arrest in Online Child Grooming Case

March 18, 2026 — United States

The Decoy Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from online exploitation through ethical decoy operations and education, announced that a suspect previously reported in an online child grooming investigation has been arrested and is awaiting trial.

On August 13, 2025, a trained adult decoy working with The Decoy Project was contacted by a male suspect in a public online chat environment. During the initial interaction, the decoy clearly stated she was a minor. The suspect acknowledged the stated age and continued to initiate and maintain communication consistent with known child grooming behaviors.

During the course of the conversations, the suspect expressed romantic and physical intentions toward the perceived minor, including statements about wanting to kiss her and become her boyfriend. He encouraged moving communications off the original platform and continued the interaction through a separate messaging application. The decoy again confirmed she was a minor, and the suspect indicated the stated age did not matter and that he wished to continue communicating.

Between August 13 and August 17, 2025, the suspect allegedly engaged in persistent grooming conduct. Messages reportedly included repeated expressions of affection, attempts to normalize secrecy, and discussions of future in-person meetings involving physical contact. The suspect, who represented himself as being 61 years old, also allegedly described explicit sexual expectations framed within a future marriage scenario.

Following investigative review and suspect identification, The Decoy Project formally reported the individual, identified as William R. Wheelis, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) on August 18, 2025. All relevant evidence and documentation were provided to support potential law enforcement action.

On December 30, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted The Decoy Project to obtain additional case information and supporting documentation pertaining to William R. Wheelis as part of their ongoing investigation.

On February 25, 2026, William R. Wheelis was arrested in Titusville, Florida, in connection with the reported conduct and is currently awaiting trial.

Statement from The Decoy Project:
“Our organization exists to help prevent the exploitation of children by identifying predatory behavior and ensuring credible cases are reported through lawful and ethical channels. Education, prevention, and collaboration remain central to our mission.”

The Decoy Project continues to work collaboratively with online platforms, law enforcement agencies, educators, and community partners to increase awareness of online grooming tactics and improve digital safety for minors.

About The Decoy Project, Inc.
The Decoy Project is a nonprofit organization focused on child online safety through ethical investigative decoy operations, public education initiatives, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. The organization’s mission is to identify and report individuals who seek to exploit minors online while empowering families and communities with tools to prevent victimization.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

The Decoy Project, Inc. Report Leads to Arrest in Illinois Child Solicitation Case
Florida — The Decoy Project, Inc., a Florida-based nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting
children from online exploitation, confirms that an individual previously reported by the organization has
been arrested and charged in Illinois.

On December 20, 2025, The Decoy Project submitted a formal report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding online communications involving an individual
identified as Craig A. Chesner.

The report followed a two-month ethical decoy operation conducted by The Decoy Project. During this operation, a legally adult individual posed online as a minor to identify individuals engaging in
inappropriate communications with children.

According to documentation gathered during the interaction, the suspect engaged in conversations that
were sexual in nature with a profile representing a minor.

On February 8, 2026, Craig A. Chesner was arrested in Charleston, Illinois and has been charged with eight (8) counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child.

The Decoy Project did not participate in the arrest.
All investigative authority and charging decisions were conducted independently by law enforcement.

About The Decoy Project, Inc.

The Decoy Project, Inc. is a Florida-based nonprofit organization that conducts ethical online decoy operations to identify individuals seeking to exploit minors.
Reports are submitted to appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ICAC Task Forces, and NCMEC.

In addition to reporting, the organization develops educational resources to help parents and communities recognize and prevent online exploitation.

Important Notice
All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

[The Daily Eastern News @DEN_news]

A former Eastern Illinois University professor was charged Feb. 18 with eight counts of indecent solicitation of a child, according to the charging documents.

https://t.co/niDY6E52vj

#eiu #formerprofessor #charged

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

Predators don’t operate in just one place—and neither do we.
The Decoy Project has reported suspected child predators across the United States, providing documented evidence to law enforcement to help protect kids online. Every pin on this map represents a case where action was taken.

Learn more at https://t.co/UbYRivTzkO.

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

Information found at the Family Online Safety Institute

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

Strong digital parenting starts with simple, consistent steps. 💙

From open conversations to setting clear boundaries, protecting kids online isn’t about control — it’s about guidance, education, and leadership.

Here are 7 practical ways to create a safer digital environment at home:
✔️ Talk to your kids
✔️ Educate yourself
✔️ Use parental controls
✔️ Set ground rules & enforce consequences
✔️ Friend & follow (don’t stalk)
✔️ Explore, share & celebrate together
✔️ Be a positive digital role model
Small actions today build safer tomorrows.

[The Decoy Project @TheDecoyProject]

7. Be A Good Digital Role Model
Curb your own bad digital habits
Know when and where to unplug
Show your kids how to collaborate and be kind online