U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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February 7, 2003 Crystal Lake Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of JOHN THOMAS CRIEL, age 29, of 311 Second Street in Crystal Lake, Illinois. CRIEL was arrested late Wednesday afternoon at his residence, without incident, by FBI Special Agents. CRIEL was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Rockford, Illinois with one count of traveling interstate to engage in sexual relations with a minor, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, CRIEL traveled from his home in Crystal Lake to Whiting, Indiana in early January of this year, to meet with a 15 year old female that he had met on-line in late December of 2002. This arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the FBI; the Lake County, Illinois State's Attorney; the Whiting, Indiana Police Department; and the Algonquin and Crystal Lake, Illinois Police Departments. CRIEL appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge P. Michael Mahoney in Rockford, Wednesday afternoon, at which time he was ordered held without bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance. If convicted of this offense, CRIEL faces a possible sentence of up to 15 years incarceration. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against CRIEL is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645. |
