Ricardo D. Minor, 38, of Cahokia, Illinois, is facing federal charges after a grand jury indicted him on three counts tied to the exploitation of a minor and attempts to silence a witness. The indictment, returned on March 1, 2018, by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis, lays bare a disturbing series of crimes spanning multiple jurisdictions across Illinois and Missouri.
Minor is charged with enticement of a minor, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and tampering with a witness. Prosecutors allege the crimes occurred between June 14, 2017, and November 17, 2017, in St. Clair and Madison Counties in Illinois, as well as in the State of Missouri. The charges paint a pattern of predatory behavior followed by deliberate efforts to obstruct justice.
If convicted on the enticement and transportation charges, Minor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, up to life behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release ranging from five years to life. The witness tampering charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, plus up to three years of supervised release.
Authorities say the investigation revealed digital communications and physical movements pointing to Minor’s calculated efforts to lure the minor across state lines for illicit purposes. Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting Minor attempted to influence or intimidate a witness critical to the case, triggering the federal obstruction charge.
The case was jointly investigated by the Collinsville Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the FBI’s Springfield Child Exploitation Task Force. Their collaboration underscores the multi-agency response often required in complex child exploitation cases that cross municipal and state lines.
The case is now in the hands of Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott, who will prosecute on behalf of the Southern District of Illinois. Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, confirmed the indictment. Minor remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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