Illinois Police Arrest 41-Year-Old in Sex Predator Sweep

The ongoing effort to crackdown on sexual predators in Illinois has netted another arrest as a 41-year-old suspect was busted in the latest crime operation in the Galesburg area.

The Illinois State Police just shared an update on a human trafficking crackdown operation that was completed on December 18, 2025. A press release from the Public Information Office of the Illinois State Police says that 41-year-old John O’Leary of Chicago was arrested and charged "promoting Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Class 1 Felony), Indecent Solicitation of a Child (Class 3 Felony), Traveling to Meet a Minor (Class 3 Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine less than 5 grams (Class 3 Felony), and Grooming (Class 4 Felony)".

This new arrest included efforts from numerous Illinois law enforcement agencies including the Illinois Trafficking Enforcement Group, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Zone 2 Major Crimes Unit, ISP Investigative Support Unit, ISP SWAT, Galesburg Police Department, North Central Narcotics Task Force, and Troopers from Troop 3 and Troop 4.

Illinois Police say that if you see something strange or concerning, you need to say something to authorities. If you believe you have information on potential human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-
7888 or you can text *233733. Even one victim of these horrific crimes is one too many. Let's hope that law enforcements in the state of Illinois continue to locate and shut down these human predators.