The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing the arrest of Justin J. Russell, age 33, and Lauren L. Russell, age 27, of 24444 W. Kipling Court in Joliet regarding child pornography charges.
On December 16, 2021, Sheriff's detectives received a cyber-tip from the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The tip was transferred to the Sheriff's Office once it was discovered that the potential suspects lived in Will County jurisdiction.
Once Sheriff's detectives received the information, they began a thorough investigation involving Justin and Lauren Russell sharing and uploading multiple images and videos of child pornography. Detectives secured a search warrant on January 11, 2022 and executed the warrant at the Russell residence the next day. Electronic devices and additional evidence was seized for forensic examination. The Russell's were at the residence at the time the warrant was served. They both refused to speak with detectives and exercised their rights to an attorney.
Upon obtaining several of the forensic analysis results and processing evidence, an arrest warrant was granted on January 28, 2022. The Sheriff's Warrant Division picked up Mr. and Mrs. Russell today at their home. They were taken into custody and booked into the Adult Detention Facility, both charged with three counts of child pornography. Each has a $5million bond (10%).
This case remains open as further evidence is being examined and processed.
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