Lockport, Illinois — A Will County man faces felony charges after an internet crimes investigation led to his arrest Sunday.
According to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Gabriel Lopez, 21, was arrested Sunday and charged with three felony counts of possession of child sex abuse material following a months-long investigation tied to an online cybertip.
Investigators said the case began approximately nine months ago after detectives were notified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through an Internet Crimes Against Children cybertip submitted on Sept. 21, 2023, reportedly originating from Google.
Detectives later contacted Lopez at his home in Lockport, where he allegedly admitted the information from the cybertip belonged to him and that he had child sex abuse material stored on his phone, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities said an arrest warrant was issued, and Lopez was taken into custody at his residence without incident. He was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, where he remains held pending his next court appearance.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the charges are allegations, and Lopez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Cases involving online exploitation often rely on tips from technology platforms and federal reporting systems, which continue to play a central role in identifying and investigating digital crimes involving minors.
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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