A Federal Grand Jury has returned a two-count indictment against Timothy S. Griesemer, 39, of Jerseyville, Illinois charging him with Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Child and Inducement of a Child to Engage in Prostitution, United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton announced today. The alleged violations took place on Oct. 10, 2013 in Jersey County. Griesemer had been charged in a two-count federal Criminal Complaint for the alleged offenses on Oct. 11, 2013. The Court has ordered that Griesemer be held without bond pending trial.
The offenses charged in the indictment allege that, on or about Oct. 10, 2013, Griesemer attempted to recruit, induce, entice and obtain a child under the age of 14 years knowing that the person would be caused to be engaged in a commercial sex act.
A trial date is set for Dec. 2, 2013. If convicted of Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Child, Griesemer faces a term in prison of not less than fifteen (15) 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. If convicted of Inducement of a Child to Engage in Prostitution, Griesemer faces a term 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.
An indictment 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 Illinois State Police, the Jerseyville Police Department and the United States Secret Service Southern Illinois Cyber-Crime Unit. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
