Wilmington Man Who Raped Girl He Drove To IL From Iowa Learns Federal Prison Term

WILMINGTON, IL — The U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago issued a press release late this week revealing a Wilmington man who drove a 13-year-old girl from Clinton, Iowa, back to his hometown to engage in criminal sexual activity has been given a federal prison term of over 27 years.

According to federal prosecutors, in the summer of 2021, Ryan Zelek communicated with a 13-year-old girl on Snapchat. Zelek, knowing the girl was 13 years old, drove to Iowa, picked up the girl outside a movie theater, and brought her to his home in Illinois, where he sexually assaulted her. Zelek then drove the victim back to Iowa.

The U.S. Attorney's office said he also recorded part of the sexual assault on his phone.

Law enforcement later conducted a court-authorized search of Zelek’s electronic devices and discovered thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including sadistic acts being perpetrated against very young children.

According to federal prosecutors, Zelek, now 33, pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Judge Blakey also ordered Zelek to pay a total of $54,298 in restitution.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Zelek to 27 and a half years in federal prison. Judge Blakey also ordered Zelek to pay a total of $54,298 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Wilmington Police Department and the FBI Field Office in Mobile, Ala. Provided valuable assistance.

“Ryan Zelek raped and brutalized a 13-year-old girl and recorded a video of it on his cell phone,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin M. Pinkston argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant clearly foresaw the consequences of his actions, knew exactly how abhorrent his actions were, and yet abused the minor anyway."

At the time of this story, a mugshot for Zelek was not available. Obtaining criminal mugshots in federal cases is nearly impossible. However, Joliet Patch has reached out to the Wilmington Police Department to see if they took his mugshot in the summer of 2021 when Zelek was first arrested. If there's one available, this story will be updated.