Detectives have arrested a Deerfield man after they say he was found with dozens of sexually explicit videos and photos of children and discussed online with others about the sexual assault of children.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from a social media provider indicating a device in Lake County possessed suspected child pornography, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Sheriff’s detectives began an investigation and determined the likely source was coming from a home in the 400 block of Jonquil Terrace in Deerfield, Covelli said.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and conducted the warrant with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and Deerfield Police Department on Thursday.
Lake County Sheriff’s Electronic Detection Canine Enzo and Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Electronic Detection Canine Grip assisted with the search.
Covelli said detectives seized electronics that contained dozens of sexually explicit images and videos of children, including as young as toddlers, belonging to Rami M. Gabriel, 49, who lives in the home.
Prosecutors said Gabriel was also uploading the material to Kik.
Detectives also discovered evidence indicating Gabriel was communicating online with others about the forcible sexual assault of child victims and expressing a sexual interest in children, prosecutors said.
“The crimes uncovered in this investigation are deeply disturbing and represent the worst kind of exploitation of children,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“Through close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, our detectives acted quickly to identify an individual who posed a serious threat to the most vulnerable members of our community. We remain steadfast in our mission to identify predators, protect victims, and ensure our community knows this behavior will never be tolerated,” Idleburg said.
The state’s attorney’s office approved 10 counts of possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony, against Gabriel and they filed a petition to detain him in jail while he awaits trial.
Additional charges are likely and sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation, Covelli said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the FBI–Chicago Field Office provided a polygrapher to assist with the investigation.
Anyone who believes they or their children may have had contact with Gabriel in a manner consistent with the investigation is asked to call Lake County sheriff’s detectives at 847-377-4000.
Gabriel is set to appear for a detention hearing on Friday afternoon.