Oak Park Man Behind Bars For Sexually Exploiting 5 Children: Chicago FBI

An Oak Park man who made his first appearance in Chicago court on Monday has been accused of sexually exploiting at least five children.

Allen Young, 52, was arrested by the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children’s Task Force, said Garrett Croon, FBI Chicago’s media coordinator. He will be held in confinement until a Feb. 16 detention hearing.

According to court documents, Young allegedly violated Title 18, Section 1591 of the U.S. Code, which has to do with the “sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion.” Five minors — labeled ‘A’ through ‘E’ in court paperwork to conceal the kids’ identities — were allegedly targeted by Young repeatedly between 2014 and 2016.

The children were between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the crimes, documents state, and allegedly engaged in commercial sex acts on Young's behalf. Young reportedly dealt with the children in separate shifts throughout the two years he was accused of exploiting them and, presumably, seeing financial gain from the situation.

According to court papers and federal law, Young didn’t threaten or coerce the children into his scheme, but did recruit, entice and advertise them, among other things.

In accordance with U.S. Code, crimes like Young’s are expected to be met with heavy fines and 10 years to life in prison.

--

Image via Shutterstock