Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Caseyville, Illinois man for producing 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 Carl Williams, 56, in St. Clair County Circuit Court with three Class X felony charges of producing child sexual abuse material, depiction of a child under 13, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and one Class 1 felony charge of producing child sexual abuse material, depiction of a child under 18, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Williams is detained at the St. Clair County jail. 

“I am committed to protecting children and families from predators who exploit children online,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force collaborates with state and local authorities to ensure that individuals who commit these heinous acts are held accountable, and survivors receive justice that can aid in their healing.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Caseyville Police Department and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a search on Tuesday of Williams’ residence in the 100 block of Southern Dr. in Caseyville. Williams was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found.

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 1,250 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,600 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 more than a million parents, teachers and students, in addition to 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 David Sternau is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s office.