A veteran Illinois State Police trooper has been charged in federal courtroom with distributing and possessing little one pornography following a year-long investigation that started with experiences to the Nationwide Heart for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters.
Colin Gruenke, 38, of Deerfield, was charged Thursday with one depend of distribution of kid pornography and one depend of possession of kid pornography following an investigation by the Division of Homeland Safety.
The investigation started in September 2024, when the social media platform Kik reported to NCMEC that an account had uploaded a number of movies and pictures of kid sexual abuse materials, in response to the grievance. Data allegedly confirmed the accounts have been linked to web knowledge assigned to Gruenke’s residence and e mail addresses containing his initials.
Investigators stated Gruenke tried to cover his id and site by utilizing VPNs to distribute photographs and take part in on-line chats the place he described an curiosity in little one sexual abuse.
Earlier this week, federal brokers executed search warrants on Gruenke whereas he was at Illinois State Police places of work in Des Plaines. Investigators instantly discovered sexual abuse materials on his telephone, the grievance stated. One other warrant was executed at his Deerfield condo. Brokers seized his iPhone and a flash drive, each of which allegedly contained deleted photographs and movies of kid pornography.
The flash drive allegedly contained about 200 movies, together with depictions of younger youngsters being victimized by adults.
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