Cook County, IL – A 37-year-old Des Plaines man is facing felony charges after investigators say thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material were discovered on his electronic devices.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from an investigation by the Sheriff’s Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, which began in September after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged potential illegal material tied to a social media account.
Sheriff’s investigators said search warrants confirmed the account belonged to Nathaniel Zito and that child sexual abuse material, also known as CSAM, had allegedly been shared through the account.
In October, investigators spoke with Zito at his residence in the 9800 block of Bianco Terrace in Des Plaines. According to authorities, Zito waived his Miranda rights and allegedly admitted to sending and receiving CSAM using his cell phone and laptop. Investigators said he consented to a search of his phone, where additional material was observed.
The electronic devices were seized as evidence, and further search warrants were executed.
On Tuesday, January 27, investigators arrested Zito after approximately 6,500 images and videos of CSAM were allegedly recovered from the devices. The following day, January 28, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of dissemination of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Zito appeared in court Thursday at the Skokie Courthouse and was ordered held in Cook County Jail following his initial appearance.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that since 2020, its ICAC investigations have resulted in charges against 61 individuals in cases involving the sexual exploitation of children.
Authorities emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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