Two Warren men have been arrested and charged following a joint investigation into the possession and distribution of child sexually abusive material, Warren police and the Michigan State Police said.

The Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force led the investigation, dubbed  Operation By the Bell,  in coordination with the Warren Police Department.


The task force has included a Warren police Special Victims Detective since June, police said.

The investigation began in early August after the task force received information about individuals allegedly downloading and distributing child sexually abusive material online.

Investigators used search warrants directed at internet service providers, social media platforms and technology companies to identify the suspects, police said.

The suspects were identified as Michael Wilks, 59, and Dean Roberts, 33, both of Warren.

On Sept. 2, members of the ICAC Task Force, with support from the Warren Police Special Response Team and Special Operations Units, executed search warrants at residences in the 27000 block of Baldwin and the 11000 block of Jackson in Warren, police said.

Police took Wilks and Roberts into custody without incident.

Police said they recovered numerous electronic devices during the searches and that both men admitted to their alleged involvement.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office authorized felony charges against both men following a review of the evidence, police said.

Wilks faces 14 felony counts, including three counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, seven counts of using a computer to commit a crime and four counts of possession of child sexually abusive material, according to police.

Roberts faces four felony counts, including using a computer to communicate with another person to commit child sexually abusive activity, aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, using a computer to commit a crime and aggravated distributing or promotion of child sexually abusive activity, police said.

Wilks and Roberts were arraigned Thurs

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