Illinois Attorney General Secures 48-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation Offender

Dustin Phillips sentenced for disseminating child sexual abuse material

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that Dustin Phillips, a 34-year-old man from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, was sentenced to 48 years in prison for disseminating child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul's ongoing efforts to collaborate with law enforcement agencies across the state to identify and hold accountable those who exploit children online.

Why it matters

This case highlights the Attorney General's commitment to protecting Illinois children from online exploitation and the serious consequences faced by those who engage in the distribution of child sexual abuse material. It also underscores the growing prevalence of these crimes, with a 45% increase in CyberTips reported to the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in 2025.

The details

Dustin Phillips pleaded guilty to three counts of dissemination of child pornography, Class X felonies. Raoul's investigators, along with local law enforcement, conducted a search of Phillips' residence in Mt. Vernon in August 2025 and discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material. The Attorney General's office prosecuted the case with assistance from the Jefferson County State's Attorney's office.

  • In August 2025, Raoul's investigators and local law enforcement conducted a search of Phillips' residence in Mt. Vernon.
  • On February 11, 2026, Phillips was sentenced to 48 years in prison by Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Jerry E. Crisel.

The players

Kwame Raoul

The Attorney General of Illinois who announced the 48-year prison sentence for Dustin Phillips and is leading the state's efforts to combat online child exploitation.

Dustin Phillips

A 34-year-old man from Mt. Vernon, Illinois who was sentenced to 48 years in prison for disseminating child sexual abuse material.

Jerry E. Crisel

The Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge who sentenced Dustin Phillips to 48 years in prison.

Patrick Costa

The Jefferson County State's Attorney whose office assisted in the prosecution of Dustin Phillips.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The organization that receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, and shares them with the Illinois ICAC Task Force.

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What they’re saying

“Survivors of child exploitation are revictimized each time these reprehensible images are shared. My office will continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to protect Illinois children by identifying and holding offenders who prey on them accountable.”

— Kwame Raoul, Attorney General of Illinois

What’s next

The Illinois ICAC Task Force will continue its efforts to investigate child exploitation crimes and provide training and education to law enforcement agencies and the public.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of the Attorney General's collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement to identify and prosecute those who engage in the distribution of child sexual abuse material, which revictimizes survivors and poses a serious threat to the safety of Illinois children.