ROCKFORD - Two area men were charged by a federal grand jury in separate cases on child pornography charges. ZACHARY RODRIGUEZ, 24, of Loves Park, Ill., was indicted on June 16, 2015, on one count of using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct in November 2014. Rodriguez appeared in federal court on June 23, 2015, and pled not guilty.
ADRIAN C. PETERS, 22, of South Beloit, Ill., was charged today with 12 counts of using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction that would be transmitted and transported by a means or facility of interstate and foreign commerce, during the period of October 2012 to December 2014. Peters is scheduled to appear today at 3:00 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston.
Each count of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a potential penalty of a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and full restitution. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictments were announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert J. Holley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigations, along with the South Beloit Police Department in the charges against Peters, and the Loves Park Police Department in the charge against Rodriguez.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
