Federal Grand Jury Indicts Savoy Man on Sexual Exploitation Charges

URBANA, Ill. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Savoy, Illinois, man, David I. Berry, 21, of the 800 block of Hartwell, for alleged sexual exploitation of a minor on October 4 and 5, 2021.  Berry appeared in federal court in Urbana today in front of Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long for an initial appearance and arraignment, at which the indictment against him was unsealed.

Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long ordered that Berry remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention hearing on February 15, 2022.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are no less than 15 years up to 30 years in prison.

Berry was previously arrested and charged by the Champaign County State’s Attorney in October 2021. The case was brought as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement to address the rise in child exploitation since March 2020.

Agencies participating in the investigation include U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Champaign County Sherriff’s Office, the Urbana Police Department, and the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. 

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.