FORMER ILLINOIS POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO OVER 31 YEARS FOR TRAVELING TO IOWA TO HAVE SEX WITH 13-YEAR-OLD BOY (Internet Predator Sexually Abused 14 Boys in 4 States and Involved in International Abuse)

Donald W. Rager, 41, from Grayslake, Illinois, was sentenced today to more than 31 years in federal prison for traveling to Iowa to have sex with a 13 year old boy and taping the encounter.  Rager, a part-time police officer who operated a security business, received the prison term after guilty pleas to one count of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, one count of producing child pornography, and one count of transporting child pornography across a state line.  Rager met the boy in an Internet chat room.  He persuaded the boy to meet him at a Dubuque mall.  He met the boy at the mall and took the boy to a Dubuque hotel.  He sexually abused the boy and videotaped the encounter.  The boy reported the incident in April 2007, and law enforcement officers made undercover contacts with Rager.  During those contacts, he made plans to meet with the boy for an additional sexual encounter on May 18, 2007, in Dubuque.  He was arrested when he arrived.  Rager was in possession of the videotape and additional images of child pornography on a laptop computer.  The videotape contained two additional videos of Rager molesting minor boys.  The images on the computer included some that portrayed sadistic sexual conduct and other depictions of violence.  Rager also traveled to Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin where he sexually abused 13 other boys between the ages of 14 and 16.  He met his victims over the Internet and communicated using instant messaging, email and chat services.  He used a webcam to engage in cybersex and used the Internet to send nude pictures of himself to his victims and to send child pornography to other adults.  He was also involved over the Internet with a man from London, England, who sexually abused a 10 year old boy.  Rager watched while the man had sex with boy and broadcast it live by webcam.  That man and three others have now been charged by English authorities.  The judge sentenced Rager to 376 months' imprisonment.  A special assessment of $300 was imposed and Rager must also serve a life term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.