Chicago – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a sentencing outcome in a significant case involving child sexual exploitation. Andrew Clardy, an 18-year-old resident of Oconee, Illinois, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Clardy had previously pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault, as well as the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material. These offenses are classified as Class X felonies.
This case is part of Attorney General Raoul's efforts to work with both federal and local law enforcement to tackle the issue of child sexual abuse material dissemination online. “The victims who were abused and exploited deserve justice, and it is my hope that this sentence allows those young victims and their families to work toward healing,” Raoul stated. He further emphasized his commitment to cooperating with local agencies to hold offenders accountable.
The investigation leading to Clardy's arrest involved a collaborative effort by Raoul’s investigators, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, and Pana Police Department. These agencies searched Clardy's home in April 2024 and uncovered evidence of child sexual abuse material, including videos and images of victims, some known to Clardy. Despite being a minor at the time of his arrest, Clardy was charged as an adult due to the serious nature of the crimes.
The Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, run by Raoul’s office with support from a U.S. Department of Justice grant, played a role in the investigation. This task force, one of 61 across the U.S., is crucial in tackling child exploitation crimes and training law enforcement. According to Raoul's office, the number of CyberTipline reports has been steadily rising, with a notable increase of 11% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Since its inception, the ICAC Task Force has contributed significantly to efforts against child sexual exploitation, being involved in thousands of arrests and rescues. In 2024 alone, the task force aided in the rescue of more than 45 child victims. Additionally, the task force has been instrumental in providing internet safety training to various groups across Illinois.
Raoul encourages the public to report any instances of child sexual exploitation online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. For further support, local child advocacy centers are accessible via childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Deputy Chief Shannon O’Brien prosecuted the case as part of Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.