DOWNERS GROVE — Three men are facing felony charges after a DuPage County sting operation exposed their attempts to meet and solicit sex from a minor, officials confirmed Monday.
The suspects — Devonte Robinson, Nicholas Flesher, and Cameron Konter — allegedly believed they were communicating with a 16-year-old girl. They were arrested when they showed up at a Downers Grove hotel, where law enforcement officers were waiting, according to a statement from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Charges Filed for Attempted Grooming and Solicitation
The investigation revealed that the suspects first engaged with what they thought was an 18-year-old girl in an online ad. However, once the decoy disclosed she was only 16, the men continued pursuing contact — leading to their coordinated arrests.
Each man now faces:
-
One count of Traveling to Meet a Minor
-
One count of Grooming
-
One count of Solicitation to Meet a Child
All three defendants were granted pretrial release under strict conditions. These include electronic monitoring and prohibitions on contacting minors.
Police and Secret Service Collaborated in Operation
The sting was led by the Downers Grove Police Department in collaboration with Westmont, Carol Stream police, and the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMeg). Federal resources from the U.S. Secret Service also supported the operation, which officials described as a proactive strike against child exploitation.
“The predatory actions allegedly committed by each of these men… will not be tolerated in DuPage County,” said State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, as quoted in Hoodline’s report.
Police Chief Michael DeVries added that the success of the sting reflects the “cooperative commitment” between local and federal agencies to protect children from harm.
Court Dates Scheduled, Public Reminder on Presumption of Innocence
The defendants’ court hearings are as follows:
-
Robinson: June 11
-
Flesher: June 12
-
Konter: June 30
All three remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Worried About Online Predators in Your Suburban Area?
How safe do you feel about your community’s protections for minors online and in real life? Leave a comment below to share your perspective or suggestions.