Grimy Times Exclusive: A Decatur man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually exploiting a minor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Jason E. Cooper, 34, of the 4800 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough in federal court in Springfield, Ill. on December 18, 2014.
Cooper was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, and to register as a sexual predator for the period of his natural life. He was also ordered to forfeit computer material seized as evidence.
Cooper pled guilty on May 8, 2014, to one count each of enticement of a minor, making interstate threats, and sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to the factual basis presented by the government at Cooper’s change of plea hearing, in 2013, Cooper used social media and game sites to initiate contact with two different minor females. Cooper then sent graphic sexual texts and emails and threats of violence to the minors and their families if his demands for information and photos of graphic sexual activity were ignored.
The 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson. The charges were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Decatur Police Department.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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