O'Fallon, Illinois Man Charged With Distribution of Child Pornography

St. Louis – Michael L. Cooper, 40, of O’Fallon, Illinois, was charged in a federal complaint with distribution of child pornography.

According to the complaint, on or about January 21, 2020, an undercover officer, utilizing a false persona, was contacted on a social media applications by an individual later identified as Michael Cooper.  Cooper sent the undercover officer multiple child pornography videos and images via the internet containing depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in various sexual acts.  Cooper advised the undercover officer on several occasions that he was sexually attracted to minor males, and desired to engage in sexual acts with minor males.

As agreed upon with the undercover officer utilizing his false persona, Cooper responded to a local hotel to meet the undercover officer and purportedly engage in sexual acts with him while watching child pornography.  However, upon his arrival at the hotel room, Cooper was taken into custody.  Cooper indicated that there was child pornography on his laptop in his residence and on his cellular telephone. Cooper also admitted to being in possession of and distributing child pornography.

Charges set forth in the Complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Saint Louis County Police Department are investigating this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.