A DeKalb, Illinois man was handed a hefty 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting children, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Morris Pasqual and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr. Marquese Cannon, who began his predatory communications with a 12-year-old girl on Snapchat in 2022, eventually led her into sending sexually explicit photos and videos of herself.
Initially targeting the victim through social media, the conversations shifted to text messaging and phone calls, with Cannon directing the underage girl on the lewd acts to be performed for the images. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the depraved collection on Cannon's phone included hundreds of images of other children in sexually explicit conduct. The 22-year-old miscreant pleaded guilty to a charge of production of child pornography last year.
U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston handed down the prison term, adding a lifetime of court-supervised release following Cannon's incarceration. Judge Johnston also deemed it necessary for the convict to pay $34,000 in restitution to six identified victims. Authorities, including the DeKalb, Ill. Police Department, underscored the severity of the crime, providing critical support to the FBI's investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus represented the government in this grim case, highlighting the shadow cast by such misdeeds on the lives of the most vulnerable. If individuals believe they are victims of sexual exploitation, they are urged to reach out to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by visiting their website or calling their helpline, available 24/7.
