A Petersburg man has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to multiple child exploitation offenses.
Adam Power, 32, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2024, to 34 counts, including sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
At his sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted the severity of Power’s actions. According to evidence presented, Power, a former substitute teacher, choir director, and theater director in Central Illinois, used at least 13 online accounts to impersonate a teenage girl. Through these accounts, he sought to persuade and entice at least 24 boys, ranging in age from 8 to 16, to produce explicit images. Prosecutors stated that he also used images of a female victim to gain the trust of his targets.
Authorities emphasized that Power’s victims were not limited to online interactions but included children he knew personally. In addition, by distributing illicit images, Power placed victims in situations where their images could be shared globally.
Judge Lawless characterized Power’s actions as methodical, stating that his positions in the community contributed to a loss of security, privacy, and trust among his victims.
Power previously worked at Our Savior Catholic School and Routt Catholic School in Jacksonville and was involved in Springfield youth theater productions.
Following the sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs stated, “The defendant believed he was untouchable online, and that the mask he wore in public disguised the predator he was underneath. However, with tremendous cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement, we were able to put a stop to another internet-based offender.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino also emphasized the significance of the case. “This case is a stark reminder that predators lurk where we least expect them—hiding behind screens, positions of trust, and false identities to exploit the most vulnerable among us,” Scarpino said. “Through the dedicated commitment of HSI and our law enforcement partners, we have ensured that this offender won’t have the opportunity to victimize another child.”
Power has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in June 2023.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. More information on the initiative is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.