Former Rosemont Resident Charged With Producing Child Pornography

CHICAGO — A former Rosemont resident has been indicted on federal child pornography charges for allegedly exploiting a minor to produce sexually explicit images.

MARCOS GERMAN MENDEZ, 32, is charged with two counts of using a minor to produce child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography on his cell phone.

The indictment was returned in 2016 in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Mendez was arrested in July of last year in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, and recently extradited to Chicago.  He made an initial court appearance here on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings.  Mendez pleaded not guilty to the charges and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Feb. 3, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.  Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Marshals Service.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty N. Wright.             

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 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/home or by calling 1-800-843-5678.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.