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Galesburg man faces trial on two sex counts

(By ANDY KRAVETZ of the Journal Star)

Police say he used Internet to lure young children

PEORIA - A Galesburg man was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury for allegedly trying to arrange for sex with young children he met on the Internet.

Dan C. Powell, 53, of 649 Indiana Ave. faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on two counts of using a means of interstate commerce to persuade, induce and entice an individual younger than 18 to engage in sexual activity.

In November and December last year, Powell, an over-the-road trucker, was talking to a Pekin teenager and had made plans to meet with him at the Kmart in Pekin, but the boy didn't show, according to court reports.

The boy's sister learned of the Internet conversations and told her mother, who then called Pekin police. The case was handed over to the U.S. Attorney's Central Illinois Cybercrime Unit, which conducted a two-month sting operation in which an officer posed as "Jessica," a fictitious 12-year-old girl, and made plans to meet with Powell, court records indicate.

Powell was arrested in late March when he allegedly tried to meet the "girl" in the parking lot of Cub Foods, 5001 N. Big Hollow Road.

Also indicted were:

- Demetrius Coleman, 27, of 2428 W. Garden St.^; unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

- Julius A. Wren, 23, of 1811 N. Peoria Ave.^; unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

- Rotisha Shelton, 29, of 407 N. Apricot Ave.^; two counts of unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

- Herman N. Smith, 30, of 645 Ohio Ave., Galeburg^; conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and distribution of cocaine.

- Parrish D. Zolicoffer, 31, of 301 Huston St., Apt. 57, Galesburg^; conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and three counts of distribution of cocaine.

Source: www.pjstar.com



Cybercrime News Archive


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