Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today charged a Clinton, Illinois man with possession of child pornography. 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 pornography online.
The Attorney General’s office charged Cord Buchanan, 31, in DeWitt County Circuit Court with seven counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies, each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Buchanan’s next court date is Jan. 22. Raoul’s office will prosecute this case.
“Victims of child pornography and their families can be left with life-long scars. The predators responsible for those horrific crimes must be held accountable,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies to protect communities from offenders who exploit children.”
Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Clinton Police Department, conducted a search of Buchanan’s residence on Dec. 21 in the 400 block of North Linden in Clinton. Buchanan was arrested when investigators discovered evidence of child pornography.
“The Clinton Police Department appreciates the investigative efforts and cooperation of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in keeping our children safe and bringing a child predator to justice,” said Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers.
The public is reminded that the defendant is 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 pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2022, reports to the ICAC increased by 26% over 2021.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 175 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 38,500 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 620 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,010 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals.
Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at www.cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at www.childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Shantikumar Kulkarni is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
