Federal Grand Jury Indicts Grundy County Man on Child Pornography Charges

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a Grundy County man on child pornography charges for allegedly inducing two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct. In February 2026, DUANE DEMICHELE used, persuaded, induced, and enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. In addition, the indictment states that in February and March 2026, DeMichele received numerous video files containing child pornography. DeMichele, 45, of Diamond, Ill., was arrested on June 30, 2026. He remains detained in federal custody pending trial. The indictment charges him with two counts of production of child pornography and five counts of receipt of child pornography. Arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Investigations Bureau’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie E. Ursini. Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. Receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. demichele_indictment.pdf