Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Montgomery County man, Troy A. Shull, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. This case is part of Raoul's ongoing efforts with federal and local law enforcement agencies in Illinois to combat the downloading and trading of such material online.
Shull, aged 46, was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office and sentenced by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Matoush. He pleaded guilty to three Class 2 felony counts of possessing child pornography. Following his prison term, Shull will face three years to life of mandatory supervised release and must register as a sex offender for life.
Raoul emphasized the importance of justice for victims: “The young victims who are exploited and abused by child sexual abuse material deserve the justice this sentence represents, and I am hopeful it helps as they continue to heal from trauma.” He also acknowledged the cooperation with Montgomery County State’s Attorney Andrew Affrunti and local law enforcement in holding offenders accountable.
In September 2023, investigators from Raoul’s office, along with officers from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police South Central Illinois Drug Task Force, searched Shull's residence where evidence was found leading to his arrest.
State’s Attorney Andrew Affrunti expressed gratitude for working alongside Raoul: “I am grateful to partner with Attorney General Raoul and his staff to ensure justice in this case,” adding that it reinforces their commitment to hold those who exploit children accountable.
Raoul's office operates the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. The 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. Reports have increased over recent years; in 2024 alone, there was an 11% rise compared to 2023.
The ICAC Task Force is one among 61 across the nation comprising over 200 law enforcement agencies at various levels. Since its inception in 2019, it has received more than 54,700 CyberTips resulting in over 900 arrests related to sexual predation activities. In total since 2006, there have been more than 2,300 arrests attributed to its efforts. In addition, more than 45 children were rescued from ongoing abuse situations during 2024 alone.
Raoul encourages public reporting of child sexual exploitation via cybertipline.com or dcfs online reporting platforms available through Illinois state resources. Local advocacy centers can be accessed at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Jenifer Peck handled prosecution duties within Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau for this case.