Orthodontist Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Exploiting Children

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Thomas Shannon, 44, previously of Byron Center, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children.

U.S. Attorney VerHey said he was not surprised at the sentence imposed. "Shannon's selfish and senseless exploitation of these children has exposed them to a lifetime of emotional damage. I sincerely hope they can overcome it. But preying on our children must stop, and we will seek long sentences against people like Shannon until it does stop."

From 2019 through 2024, Thomas Shannon exploited at least eighteen children online, ranging in ages from 12 to 17. Police discovered Shannon's crimes when a16-year-old minor in North Carolina reported that she had been sexually exploited on Snapchat. Investigators identified the perpetrator as Shannon, then an orthodontist in Grandville. Investigators reviewed Shannon's Snapchat account and found at least 16 additional minor victims, one of whom was only twelve years old. One additional minor victim came forward. Shannon met and exploited her through a different online application while he was on bond for state child pornography charges. He did this from his yacht in Ottawa County, which was forfeited as part of the criminal prosecution.

"Protecting children from exploitation is at the heart of Homeland Security Investigations' mission," said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. "This offender preyed on vulnerable children, but through extensive collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners, we were able to identify victims and ensure the defendant was held accountable. We hope this sentence delivers some measure of justice to his victims. We relentlessly investigate these crimes and tirelessly pursue those who exploit children."

"This investigation demonstrates how local, state, and federal partners work together to identify offenders, locate victims, and hold those responsible accountable," said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. "Our Human Trafficking Task Force continues to work aggressively to identify both victims and suspects in cases involving the exploitation of children."

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Kent County Sheriff's Office, the Fuquay-Varina Police Department, and Prince George's County Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.