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Belleville Man Convicted of Attempted Sex Crimes
A federal jury has convicted Gerald S. Sewell, 59, of Belleville, Illinois, of attempting to engage in sex crimes against a minor. The jury returned guilty verdicts against Sewell after he tried to meet with an alleged 15-year-old girl in Collinsville.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, Sewell initiated a conversation online with an FBI agent posing as a 15-year-old girl. Using sexually-explicit language, he made plans to meet with the purported girl for sex at a house in Collinsville. Sewell was arrested at the scene once he arrived.
In an interview with law enforcement, Sewell stated he was living at a friend’s house in Missouri and therefore had crossed over state lines to engage in the criminal sexual activity. The operation was led by the FBI Springfield Field Office with assistance from multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe praised the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, stating, ‘As technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives, internet safety is critical for healthy development in children of all ages. Fortunately, the FBI is working aggressively to remove online predators looking for children to abuse, and I’m grateful for their partnership.’
The FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Shannon Fontenot added, ‘There is an inherent risk to children anywhere the opportunity exists to communicate online. That’s why the FBI continues to be proactive in our efforts to protect them, casting a wide net over the various online applications and internet platforms where children are vulnerable.’
Sewell was one of 14 defendants charged in June 2020 as the result of an FBI-led operation targeting online predators. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Reppert and Zoe Gross are prosecuting the case.
Sewell’s sentencing is scheduled for September 20, 2023. The exact charges against Sewell are one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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