Litchfield Man to Remain in Custody; Charged with Child Sexual Exploitation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Litchfield, Ill., man who has volunteered at local community and church youth programs, Cory C. Robinson, 24, has been ordered to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on charges of child sexual exploitation.

During today’s detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins found that Robinson presents a danger to the community if released from law enforcement custody. In court documents filed in support of Robinson’s detention, the government noted Robinson’s activities have included volunteering at a local church youth program, trips to Six Flags, Colorado, and camping with minors, and online conversations with minors using multiple social media platforms.

Robinson was arrested on July 15, following indictment by a grand jury on charges of production of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor. The indictment alleges that Robinson produced child pornography of a minor and attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct in August and September 2017. The grand jury returned the two-count indictment on July 9; however it had remained sealed pending Robinson’s arrest and court appearance.

If convicted of the offense of production of child pornography, Robinson faces a statutory prison sentence of 15 to 30 years; the statutory penalty for attempted enticement of a minor is 10 years to life in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crystal C. Correa. The charges are the result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Illinois State Police.  

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.