Nine Central Illinois men arrested for attempted sexual activity with children

Posted on November 6, 2019
Gavel
If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. (WJBC File Photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

PEORIA – A Bloomington man was among nine other Central Illinois men arrested over the weekend for attempting to engage in sexual activity with children.

The men were each charged with attempted enticement of a child to engage in sexual activity. They appeared in federal court Monday.

The defendants include:

  • Thomas Bauer, 35, Bloomington
  • Thomas R. Alt, 26, Peoria
  • Jacob N. Beeney, 35, Trivoli
  • Travis Koch, 38, Peoria
  • Patrick Lanan, 39, Mapleton
  • Tyler D. Lee, 33, Galesburg
  • Keith Madson, 35, Canton
  • Hector Martinez, 56, Peoria
  • Bernard Waibel, 55, Peoria

Each of the men allegedly used various types of social media platforms to engage with children, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Springfield FBI agents posed as minors to make arrangements to meet with the men. The men were loured to a designated address in Peoria and were then taken into custody by FBI agents, Illinois State Police, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, and the Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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