14 St. Louis-area residents accused after FBI sting

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Fourteen people from the St. Louis area are facing federal charges accusing them of attempting to have sex with minors following an FBI investigation.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that all of the suspects were arrested this week at homes where they allegedly thought they were going to engage in sex with minors they met online.

A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced the charges. Suspects are from both Illinois and Missouri.

Several of the men face additional charges. Two are accused of attempted production of child pornography and other is charged with attempted sex trafficking of a child.

As part of the sting, undercover agents on Sunday and Monday pretended to be minors in a variety of text messages, social media and apps.