Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Mar. 10 that Tyson Schmitt, a registered sex offender from Lebanon, Illinois, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.
The sentencing is part of ongoing efforts by the Attorney General’s office to address online child exploitation and protect vulnerable children across Illinois. The case highlights the continued collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute individuals involved in such crimes.
Schmitt, age 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, both classified as Class 2 felonies. He was sentenced by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Watson. Schmitt had previously been convicted in 2013 for indecent solicitation of a child and related offenses. Investigators from Raoul’s office searched Schmitt’s residence in March 2022 and found evidence leading to his arrest.
“Survivors of child exploitation and their families face a lifetime of trauma from reprehensible images on the internet,” Raoul said. “My office will continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to protect Illinois children by identifying and holding offenders who prey on them accountable.”
The Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, operated by Raoul’s office with support from the U.S. Department of Justice, investigates these crimes and provides training for law enforcement agencies statewide. The task force receives CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; reports increased by 45% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Since its inception, the ICAC Task Force has received over 76,500 CyberTips since 2019 and has participated in more than 2,500 arrests since 2006. In addition to arrests, more than 30 child victims were rescued from ongoing abuse in 2025 alone.
The Attorney General’s broader work includes advocating for vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants, and seniors according to the official website. The office handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to the official website and aims to protect consumers while promoting safer communities according to the official website. Its advocacy extends throughout Illinois according to the official website, partnering with law enforcement agencies to support crime victims according to the official website and offering services such as complaint filing for consumer fraud or civil rights issues according to the official website.
Raoul reminded residents that suspected cases of child sexual exploitation can be reported at cybertipline.com or through local resources listed at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.