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Date: 06-08-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 3:20-cr-30048-SEM-TSH
Judge: Sue E. Myerscough
Court: United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Sangamon County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Springfield, Illinois attempt to engage a minor in sexual activity charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Rafael Mercado Berrios, aka Jose Berrios, 42, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and using the internet and cell phone to attempt to transmit information about a minor.
During two and a half days of trial, beginning on June 2, the government presented evidence that in late August 2020, Berrios used a social media application to engage with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. In addition, evidence was presented that Berrios went to a Springfield residence on Aug. 28, 2020, where he believed he would be meeting a 15-year-old girl to have a sexual encounter.
Berrios has been detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on Aug. 28, 2020. At sentencing, Berrios faces a statutory penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The charges are the result of investigation by the FBI – Springfield Division with the assistance of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; the Springfield Police Department; and, the Illinois State Police with the assistance of the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Gregory K. Harris represented the federal government at trial.
Outcome: The jury deliberated for nearly 90 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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