Prosecutors say a “large cache” of 38,000 images and videos, some showing toddlers, was seized after police raided a home in Huntley and arrested a resident for distributing child sexual abuse material.
The Huntley Police Department announced the arrest of John T. Ruffolo, 20, of Huntley, last week and said he is facing 17 counts of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in July provided the Huntley Police Department with information that was obtained from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children data system, according to Huntley Deputy Police Chief Kevin Keane.
The tip involved a Huntley-based IP address that was attempting to share potential child sexual abuse materials for download via a cloud-based client-server service.
The Huntley Police Department’s Investigations Division conducted an investigation into the cybertip from Dropbox and investigators connected the Dropbox account to Ruffolo, leading to over 1,000 images and over 200 videos of child sexual abuse material being located, prosecutors said.
Huntley police detectives and Illinois Attorney General investigators, with the assistance of the Illinois State Police and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Canine Enzo, conducted a court-authorized search warrant at Ruffolo’s residence in the 10800 block of Grand Canyon Avenue in Huntley.
Prosecutors said a search of the home uncovered over 37,000 more images located on an encrypted external hard drive. Court documents said the files totaled 251 gigabytes in size and some of the material depicted toddlers.
“This investigation revealed that Ruffolo was an active participant in the facilitation, possession, and distribution of child sexual abuse material to other users through various social media applications,” the state’s attorney’s office said.
A resident told Lake and McHenry County Scanner the heavy police presence was in the area of Haligus Road and Grand Canyon Avenue in Huntley and he witnessed the activity while walking his dog.
There were marked squad cars and unmarked vans with approximately 15 officers roaming around a home.
The resident, who lives in the same neighborhood, said a brief standoff occurred before a man wearing a black hoodie and orange shorts was escorted from the home into a squad car.
Keane said Ruffolo agreed to come to the police department while investigators completed an examination and analysis of several seized electronic devices.
He was later placed under arrest based on evidence gathered during the search.
At least one person on social media who was at the scene in Wing Pointe subdivision said it looked like possible ICE agents along with Huntley police but officials confirmed it was a local matter.
Ruffolo was charged with five counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony; 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material of a victim under 13, a Class 2 felony; and two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material of a victim under 18, a Class 3 felony.
He was transported to McHenry County Jail and appeared for an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Friday afternoon.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted a petition filed by prosecutors to hold Ruffolo in custody pending trial, finding there are no conditions of release to mitigate the threat he poses.
Keane said the case is still an active investigation. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Huntley Police Department at 847-515-5311.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the Huntley Police Tip Line at 847-515-5333.
Ruffolo is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.