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Friday, November 22, 2024

Springfield man charged for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material

State AG
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul | Facebook Website

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged Anthony J. Marconi, a Springfield resident, with eight counts of possessing child pornography. The charges are part of an ongoing effort by Raoul's office to combat the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material in collaboration with federal and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois.

Marconi, aged 58, was charged in Sangamon County Circuit Court. Each count is classified as a Class 3 felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. Marconi is currently held at the Sangamon County Jail with his next court appearance scheduled for November 14.

"Survivors of sexual assault and exploitation may never fully heal from the trauma they have experienced, making it imperative that the perpetrators of these crimes be stopped," said Attorney General Raoul. "My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to locate and bring to justice individuals who exploit minors."

The investigation involved a search conducted by Raoul’s investigators and officers from the Springfield Police Department at Marconi's residence on East Enos Avenue on October 23. Evidence led to Marconi's arrest. He is employed as a school bus driver by First Student, Inc., which has placed him on administrative leave pending further investigation.

“At First Student, our number one priority is the safety of our students, employees and the communities we serve. This driver was immediately placed on administrative leave,” stated Chris Coyle, First Student Area General Manager. “We will continue to assist law enforcement with the ongoing investigation.”

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser’s office is assisting in prosecuting this case alongside Raoul’s office. "We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to keep our community safe," Milhiser commented.

Raoul emphasized that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force operates under Raoul's office with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. It investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies while receiving CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Reports have increased significantly over recent years, including a 46% rise in 2023 compared to 2022.

Since its inception, Illinois’ ICAC Task Force has facilitated more than 2,200 arrests related to child exploitation offenses and provided extensive internet safety training across various communities.

Attorney General Raoul encourages reporting child sexual exploitation online via cybertipline.com or child abuse through dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov.

Assistant Attorney General Nicole L. Bartell is handling prosecution duties for this case within Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.

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