Prosecutors say a non-US citizen admitted to traveling from Georgia to Lake County where he picked up a child, whom he had been soliciting explicit material from online, before detectives rescued the girl near Libertyville.
Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez, 24, of Norcross, Georgia, was charged with two counts of solicitation of child pornography, a Class 1 felony, and one count of unlawful possession of cocaine, a Class 4 felony.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4:40 a.m. Saturday to a home in unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a missing child.
The juvenile, a girl under the age of 14, had never run away before, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said.
It was “very concerning” that she disappeared in the middle of the night, he said.
Sheriff’s detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation.
Covelli said detectives discovered the girl’s cell phone was not functioning and she was unable to be located through any of her electronics.
Detectives found that Fuerte Perez had been previously communicating with the girl, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s detectives were able to determine Fuerte Perez made plans to drive from Georgia to pick up the girl.
It appeared Fuerte Perez told the girl he wanted a “romantic relationship” with her, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s detectives developed information on a vehicle Fuerte Perez may have been driving and utilized public safety camera technology to locate the vehicle at the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville.
Both the child and Fuerte Perez were located inside the vehicle in a parking lot around 6 p.m., Covelli said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Brooke Wanzenberg said Fuerte Perez admitted to traveling from Georgia to Lake County for the sole intention to meet the 13-year-old girl.
Fuerte Perez had been communicating with the girl for several months after meeting her online, Wanzenberg said.
Fuerte Perez also said he was in a “romantic relationship” with the child, who he picked up in the middle of the night without her parents’ knowledge and was with her until the evening, Wanzenberg said.
The child did not appear to be physically injured but was transported to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center for specialized attention.
A forensic interview was conducted and she also submitted to a SANE examination. Evidence was collected and is being submitted for analysis.
The child told investigators that Fuerte Perez had previously asked her to send him nude photographs, Wanzenberg said. He also allegedly sent her sexual images of himself.
“This type of case is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our Criminal Investigations Division took this case seriously and worked tirelessly from the moment the girl was reported missing until she was safely located,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“While there will undoubtedly be a long road to recovery and healing, I am grateful the victim was found safe and is physically okay. I am proud of everyone who played a role in rescuing this young girl and bringing the offender to the first steps of justice,” Idleburg said.
Fuerte Perez was transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
Fuerte Perez had been communicating with the child on TikTok, WhatsApp and Facebook over the course of several months. Wanzenberg said that the man was aware that child was underage.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him in custody while awaiting trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community and is a willful flight risk.
A detention hearing was held on Tuesday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition to detain.
The judge noted that Fuerte Perez has no ties to Lake County and had a prior immigration action from 2023.
It is unclear what country he is a citizen of.
Nerheim also said that he was concerned by Fuerte Perez’s actions of traveling from out of state to pick up a child and take her to a forest preserve. The judge said the man poses a real and present threat to children.
Additional charges are likely in the case besides the initial charges approved by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Covelli said.
Fuerte Perez remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 16 for a preliminary hearing.