William McBeth, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Illinois 2015

A Chicago man has been charged with allegedly transporting a minor from Wisconsin to Illinois to engage in commercial sex acts.

According to the indictment, William McBeth, also known as "Tony," 35, enticed a 15-year-old minor to engage in commercial sex acts in the Chicago area in December 2015. McBeth is accused of transporting the victim to various locations in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs to engage in commercial sex acts, and on at least one occasion brought her from Wisconsin back to Illinois for that purpose.

The two-count federal indictment charges McBeth with sex trafficking of a minor and transporting that victim from Wisconsin to Illinois for purposes of prostitution. The sex trafficking count is punishable by a minimum prison sentence of ten years and a maximum term of life, while the transportation charge is punishable by up to ten years.

McBeth is currently in law enforcement custody, awaiting arraignment in federal court in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Petersen.

The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance in the case, which was 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.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. McBeth is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Individuals who believe they may be victims of sexual exploitation are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.

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