Ali M. Summers Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois
A magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has ordered a Vandalia man to be held without bail. Trevor W. Yokley, 32, has been charged with attempting to entice a minor into engaging in illegal sexual activity. If convicted, Yokley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment.
Speaking on the matter, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft stated, "Individuals who prey on children perpetrate vile crimes, which is why identifying child predators is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners."
According to the complaint, Yokley is accused of contacting a purported 14-year-old girl online and trying to meet her between January and April 2025 for sexual activity. An undercover FBI agent created the social media profile that Yokley allegedly responded to.
Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson of the FBI Springfield remarked, "Due to the tireless pursuit of criminals who would target children, a once faceless online predator has been unmasked and arrested. This arrest is one of many to come as FBI Springfield continues to work alongside our partners to identify and bring child predators to justice."
Yokley was apprehended by the FBI in Effingham on April 1, 2025, when he traveled to meet the minor.
Legal proceedings continue, emphasizing that a complaint is a formal charge but not proof of guilt, with defendants considered innocent until proven guilty by a jury.
The investigation is led by the FBI Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Carlyle, Mt. Vernon, and Effingham police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is handling the prosecution.
