David G. Driskill, 65, of Carrollton, Illinois, was charged in federal district court with Enticement of a Minor, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. The alleged violation took place between on or about May 1, 2013, and May 10, 2013, in Jersey County. After a detention hearing held today, the Court ordered that Driskill be held without bond pending trial.
The offense charged in the Complaint alleges that, between on or about May 1, 2013, and May 10, 2013, Driskill attempted to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity.
A trial date has not yet been set. If convicted of Enticement of a Minor, Driskill faces a term of in prison of not less than ten (10) years, up to life, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not less than five (5) years up to life.
A criminal complaint is a formal charge against a defendant that is comprised of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources."
This investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service’s Southern Illinois Cyber-Crime Unit, the Illinois State Police, and the Jerseyville Police Department. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
