ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – An October trial date has been scheduled for an Ohio man charged with transporting a minor across state lines in December 2016, to engage in criminal sexual activity. Andrew Stone, 32, of Rocky River, Ohio, is also charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.
Stone appeared in federal court in Rock Island today for arraignment. A trial date of Oct. 30, 2017, was scheduled, and Stone was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention hearing scheduled on Sept. 18, 2017.
Stone was arrested in Ohio on July 28, 2017, and charged in a federal criminal complaint filed under seal on July 26, in the Central District of Illinois. Stone made his initial appearance in the Northern District of Ohio on July 31, before U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Ruiz. Stone was ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending his transportation to central Illinois.
The grand jury returned its indictment of Stone on Aug. 22. The indictment alleges that Stone transported a minor across state lines on or about Dec. 20, 2016, with the intent to engage in sexual activity that is criminalized by state law. In addition, Stone allegedly produced visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor, and transported those visual depictions across state lines.
The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint alleges that Stone traveled from Ohio to Illinois in December 2016, to meet a minor female he met using an online application known as "Whisper." Stone allegedly met and drove the girl from her home in Illinois to a hotel in Le Claire, Iowa, where he engaged in sexual acts with the minor and recorded some of the acts on his cell phone.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith DeCarlo. The charges are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, Illinois State Police, the Moline Police Department, and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This is an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Secret Service; anyone with information about the defendant, Andrew Stone, is encouraged to call 217-726-8453.
If convicted, the statutory minimum penalty for transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity is ten years and up to life in prison. For sexual exploitation of a minor, the minimum prison term is 15 years to 30 years in prison.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
--DOJ Central District of Illinois