Chicago Man Arrested In Blue Island On Child Pornography Charges: Sheriff

COOK COUNTY, IL – A Chicago man is accused of sharing child sex abuse material through a social media app. Levi Pitchford, 25, has been charged with dissemination of CSAM and possession of CSAM following a months long investigation.

Cook County Sheriff’s Police launched an investigation in December after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a social media user uploading and sending potential CSAM using their account.

Investigators learned that the social media account belonged to Levi Pitchford and confirmed that CSAM was shared via that account.

Levi Pitchford, 25

Cook County investigators met with Pitchford on Feb. 3 in the 14100 block of South Leavitt Street in Blue Island, where he was staying. After being issued his Miranda rights, investigators alleged Pitchford admitted to having CSAM on his cell phone. Investigators took the device and obtained a search warrant for it.

A forensic analysis of the phone found approximately 20 files containing CSAM.

He was taken into sheriff’s police custody Wednesday at the Blue Island address. Later in the day, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved dissemination of CSAMand possession of CSAM charges.

Pritchford was ordered detained at Cook County Jail following his initial court appearance Thursday at the Bridgeview Courthouse.