Local Man Faces Charges After Human Trafficking Sting

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Round Lake Heights man faces charges following a human trafficking sting that took place in late February in the Lincolnshire area.

Edas Romero-Chinchilla, 32, has been charged with traveling to meet a minor, indecent solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child and solicitation of a sexual act, according to a news release from Illinois State Police.

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau tookRomero-Chinchilla and three other men into custody during the two-day human trafficking demand suppression operation in the Lincolnshire area on Feb. 25 and 26.

The operation focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts, according to the news release

Others arrested during the sting include Timothy Hansen, 57, of Lake Bluff; Elijah Newell, 40, of Chicago; and Sean Powers, 38, of Geneva. The operation is part of a multifaceted approach by Illinois State Police that is aimed at stopping human trafficking in Illinois.

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts, labor, or services against their will, state police said. Illinois State Police continues its multifaceted approach toward protecting those most vulnerable with its ongoing statewide human trafficking enforcement operations.

The signs of human trafficking can be subtle and you can learn more about the signs Rby visiting the National Human Trafficking Hotline website. If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733.