Man Guilty In Aurora Underage Sex Trafficking Case

AURORA, IL — A Pennsylvania man faces six to 30 years in prison for traveling to Aurora and paying to have sex with a minor. Jurors deliberated for two hours Wednesday before convicting Shane Lewis, 38, of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor and grooming. Lewis was one of eight men charged in connection with a 2015 undercover sex trafficking sting in Aurora.

Kane County prosecutors said Lewis, a resident of Kennett Square, Pa., was in the area for business on Jan. 8, 2015, when he traveled from DuPage County to an Aurora hotel with the intention of paying to have sex with a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl. When Lewis arrived at the hotel, he met a woman he believed was the girls' mother and confirmed that he wanted sexual favors from the teens. He then paid the woman $200 before hew as arrested by officers from Homeland Security Investigations and the Aurora Police Department.

Lewis' arrest was part of a six-week operation conducted by the Aurora Police Special Operations Group investigators and agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The sting operation targeted suspects who responded to online ads promoting prostitution — specifically, ads that offered sexual services performed by underage girls.

The sting resulted in the arrest of eight men from Oswego, Aurora, Chicago and Hanover Park, along with Lewis.

Prior to his conviction, Lewis had been free on $12,500 bond. His bond was revoked Wednesday and he was immediately taken into custody.

Lewis' sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 22. In addition to a prison sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

“My thanks to the jury for listening to and considering the evidence the last three days, and for understanding that human trafficking is an unconscionable act that must end. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to exploit children,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.

Shane Lewis/Kane County State's Attorney's Office