Georgetown Man, Urban Woman indicted on Child Sex Crimes Charges

Ian J. Dukes, 37, of Georgetown, Ill., and Julie P. Snyder, 43, of the 400 block of W. University Ave., Urbana, Ill., have been indicted by a federal grand jury child sexual exploitation charges. The indictment has charged Dukes and Snyder with attempted enticement of a minor, under age 18, to engage in sexual activity in July 2019.

Dukes is facing additional charges which are attempted sexual exploitation of the same minor, enticement of a second minor, sex trafficking of children, and receiving child pornography of a second minor. On Feb. 11, 2020, Dukes was arrested and charged with a criminal complaint. He appeared in federal court in Urbana and was ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Snyder was indicted by a grand jury on March 4, after which he was arrested on March 6. On March 9, Snyder appeared in federal court and the indictment was unsealed. Snyder waived a detention hearing and was ordered detained in the custody of the U.S Marshals Service. April 27, 2020, is the initial trial date scheduled. The penalties for the crimes are:

• For enticement of a minor, 10 years to life in prison.
• For attempted sexual exploitation of a child, 15 to 30 years in prison.
• For sex trafficking of children, 15 years to life in prison.
• For receiving child pornography, five to 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson represented the government in the prosecution. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinois State Police, and the Urbana Police Department investigated the charges in coordination with the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. An indictment is merely an accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.