Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a 25-year prison sentence for Charles B. Zamarron II, a Metro-East resident, following his guilty plea to charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material. The case was handled by Raoul's office in collaboration with federal and local law enforcement agencies in Illinois.
Zamarron, aged 44, was sentenced by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge John O’Gara after admitting guilt to five counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, four counts of failing to register as a sex offender, and one count of unlawful methamphetamine possession.
"This sentence brings justice to exploited and abused children who are retraumatized each and every time one of these heinous images or videos are downloaded or shared," stated Raoul. "My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is committed to continued collaborations with local law enforcement agencies to keep Illinois’ families and communities safe."
The arrest occurred in September 2023 when investigators from Raoul's office, along with officers from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, discovered evidence on Zamarron's electronic device.
Raoul’s office operates the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force through funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. This task force investigates child exploitation crimes and provides training for law enforcement agencies. It receives CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which have increased steadily over recent years—by 11% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Illinois' ICAC Task Force is part of a national network comprising more than 185 law enforcement agencies at various levels. Since its inception in 2006, it has been involved in over 2,300 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024 alone, it rescued more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse while providing internet safety education to numerous parents, teachers, students, and professionals.
Raoul reminds the public that incidents of child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and cases of child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. Local child advocacy centers can be accessed via childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Jenifer Peck prosecuted the case under Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.