Edward E. McNally, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on February 2, 2006, EDDIE WAYNE ADAMS, age 54, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, was sentenced in the United States District Court in Benton, Illinois. ADAMS was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment, was fined $5,000, and was placed on 3 years supervised release.

ADAMS had previously pleaded guilty to a one count federal indictment. Count 1 charged ADAMS with using a computer connected to the Internet to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a juvenile to engage in sexual activity.

The evidence established that from June 29, 2005, to August 17, 2005, ADAMS was using the Internet to chat with a person he believed was 13 years old. The 13-year-old actually turned out to be an individual working with law enforcement. ADAMS then set up a meeting with the person he believed to be 13 years old in Carbondale, Illinois, for purposes of engaging in illegal sexual activities. ADAMS traveled from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, to Carbondale, Illinois, to meet the alleged 13 year old for illegal sexual activities when he was immediately arrested by law enforcement officers.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George A. Norwood.

The United States Attorney = s Office, in conjunction with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, is actively investigating and prosecuting individuals who produce, distribute, or possess child pornography, or are involved in the exploitation of children. Anyone with information concerning the use of the Internet for the purposes of trafficking in child pornography or for child exploitation is encouraged to contact their local police department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.