A Chicago man, aged 29, faces charges of possessing child pornography following an investigation by the Cook County Sheriff's Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit. Sheriff Thomas J. Dart revealed the development today.
The investigation commenced in October after the ICAC unit received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a social media app user who uploaded files believed to contain child pornography.
Investigators, using subpoenas and search warrants, established that the account contained illicit content and was associated with Marcos Fuentes-Robledo from the 3600 block of W. 55th Place.
On April 3, investigators interviewed Fuentes-Robledo, who, after being issued his Miranda Warning, confessed to viewing child pornography on his cell phone.
Following this admission, authorities seized Fuentes-Robledo's phone and acquired a search warrant. Forensic analysis of the device revealed about two dozen videos and images of a sexually explicit nature involving minors.
Fuentes-Robledo was arrested on April 25. On the same day, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved one count of dissemination of child pornography, a Class X felony, and one count of possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony, against him.
He is set to appear in the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse today for his initial hearing.
Since 2020, the ICAC unit investigations have led to charges against 53 individuals concerning child victimization and child pornography cases.
The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.