Bolingbrook Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Engaging in Sexual Conduct with Underage Boys

CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a Bolingbrook man to 19 years in prison for engaging in sex acts with an underage boy and enticing him to produce sexually explicit images of himself.

RONALD GOBENCIONG, 46, posed on social media as three separate individuals – an escort, an escort’s manager, and a client – to entice the 17-year-old boy to produce pornographic images of himself.  In February 2017, Gobenciong engaged in sex acts with the boy at a suburban hotel, after which he gave the boy money.  Gobenciong later threatened to distribute the pornographic images to the boy’s father unless the boy continued to have sex with him.  Gobenciong admitted in a plea agreement that he engaged in similar conduct with two other underage boys during the same approximate time period.

Gobenciong, also known as “David Marco,” “Steve John,” and “Joe,” pleaded guilty last year to one count of production of child pornography, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor.  U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah imposed the 19-year sentence on Thursday in federal court in Chicago.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Bolingbrook Police Department.

As part of online and text communications with the boys, Gobenciong requested and received pornographic photos and videos of them.  Gobenciong knew the victims were under 18 years old at the time.

“Defendant cynically played on the fears and insecurities of children, as well as their desire for friendship,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Pruitt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “The depravity and cruelty of this conduct cannot be overstated.”

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, or log on to http://www.missingkids.com.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.