Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged a Mt. Vernon man with allegedly disseminating child sexual abuse material. 33-year-old Dustin Phillips is charged with five Class X felony counts of dissemination of child pornography, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The charges are 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 sexual abuse material online.
Raoul says children who have been exploited by predators who trade child sexual abuse material can face a lifetime of trauma. Helping survivors and their families receive justice can be essential to the healing process.
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Mt. Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of Phillips’ residence on Thursday. He was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material.
Raoul is prosecuting the case with the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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 sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2024, reports to the ICAC increased by 11% over 2023.
Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Deputy Bureau Chief Shannon O’Brien is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
