Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a 100-year prison sentence for a Carlyle, Illinois man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children and producing child sexual abuse material. The sentencing of Mickail S. Cranford, 24, was carried out by Clinton County Circuit Court Judge Joshua Morrison, following Cranford's admission of guilt to charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13 and manufacturing child pornography.
"This sentence represents justice for victims who have been exploited and abused," Raoul stated. He emphasized the ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement and prosecutors to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Attorney General’s office, in partnership with Clinton County State’s Attorney J. D. Brandmeyer, prosecuted the case. Brandmeyer remarked on the collaborative effort, "I commend the Illinois Attorney General’s office for working relentlessly with us to ensure that those who prey on children are held accountable for their actions."
The arrest of Cranford was executed in September 2024 after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found at his residence by Raoul's investigators and Clinton County Sheriff’s Office officers.
Raoul’s office, supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, manages the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. This unit handles investigations into child exploitation crimes, processes reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and trains law enforcement agencies. Notably, CyberTipline reports rose by 11% in 2024 compared to 2023. Since 2019, the Illinois ICAC Task Force has received over 54,700 CyberTips and facilitated 900 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force helped rescue over 45 child victims.
The Attorney General highlighted the importance of public vigilance, reminding citizens to report child sexual exploitation at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. Local child advocacy centers can be accessed via childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Jenifer Peck and David Sternau, Assistant Attorneys General, prosecuted the case on behalf of Raoul’s office.