Ryan Zelek, Child Sex Trafficking, Illinois 2021
Grimy Times Exclusive:
A Will County man has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly transporting a minor to Illinois from Iowa to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Ryan Zelek, 28, of Wilmington, Ill., is charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The arrest and charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
A criminal complaint filed in federal court alleges that Zelek communicated with the 13-year-old girl on the social media application Snapchat. On July 30, 2021, Zelek drove to Iowa, picked up the girl outside of a movie theatre, and drove her to his home in Illinois, where he sexually abused her.
Zelek allegedly used his cell phone to record part of the sexual encounter. He then drove the victim back to Iowa.
If convicted on the count of producing child pornography, Zelek faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. If convicted on the transportation count, Zelek faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum of life.
Zelek is currently being held until a detention hearing in federal court in Chicago on Friday at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information on this case, contact the FBI's Chicago Field Office at (312) 421-6700. For information on reporting child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit www.cybertipline.com.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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