Illinois man charged with sexually exploiting a minor, possessing child pornography

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A local man was indicted by a federal grand jury on child pornography charges and sexually exploiting a minor, announced Jim Lewis, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.

These charges resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Urbana Police Department, in cooperation with the Champaign County State's Attorney's office, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Talon G. Wright, 38, of Urbana, Illinois, was indicted on two counts of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.

The indictment alleges that on Dec. 24, 2011, and again on Jan. 15, 2012, Wright used and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing visual images of said conduct. The indictment further alleges that on Aug. 1, 2014, Wright possessed computer devices containing child pornography.

If convicted, the statutory penalty for each count of sexually exploiting a minor is 15 to 30 years in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000. The penalty for possessing child pornography is up to 10 years in prison plus a fine up to $250,000. Wright may also be sentenced to a term of supervised release up to life following any prison sentence.

Wright was arrested Oct. 27, 2014, and charged in a criminal complaint. He was ordered to remain detained in U.S. Marshals Service custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson, Central District of Illinois, is prosecuting this case. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.