Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Pawnee, Illinois man with possessing and disseminating child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

The Attorney General’s office charged Cole C. Crowder, 24, in Sangamon County Circuit Court with five counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to 7 years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Crowder is detained at the Sangamon County Jail, and his next court hearing is Oct. 26.

“It is vital that we hold individuals who trade and download these heinous images and videos accountable to ensure justice for survivors of child exploitation and their families,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to find and stop these predators.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Pawnee Police Department, searched Crowder’s home in the 200 block of Carroll Street in Pawnee. Following an investigation and upon the discovery of evidence of child sexual abuse material, Raoul’s office indicted Crowder at the Statewide Grand Jury on Oct. 9. Crowder surrendered to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on an arrest warrant yesterday.

Raoul’s office is prosecuting the case with Sangamon County State’s Attorney John C. Milhiser.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 82,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,150 arrests of sexual predators. In 2025, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 30 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to over 1 million parents, teachers, students and more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals. 

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org. 

Assistant Attorney General Samantha Cain is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s office.