Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Virden, Illinois man for allegedly disseminating child sexual abuse material. 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 sexual abuse material online.

The Attorney General’s office charged Jacob D. Monty, 28, in Macoupin County Circuit Court with two counts of dissemination of child pornography, each Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Monty is being held at the Macoupin County Jail, and his next scheduled court date is Dec. 16.

“Survivors of child abuse and exploitation are revictimized every time an individual downloads or trades one of these horrific photos or videos,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works tirelessly to identify and track down individuals who assault and exploit children. I will continue to partner with local law enforcement to locate and hold these offenders accountable.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Virden Police Department, conducted a search of Monty’s residence in the 300 block of East Holden Street in Virden. Monty was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found.  

Raoul’s office is prosecuting the case with Macoupin State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison’s office.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed 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 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 Task Force increased by 11% over 2023.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 60,000 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,000 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,400 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse. 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 cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org

Assistant Attorney General Victoria Chaves is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.