Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged an East Dubuque, Illinois man for possessing child sexual abuse material and failing to register as a sex offender. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

The Attorney General’s office charged Shad Fiferlick, 58, in Jo Daviess County Circuit Court with eight counts of possession of child pornography, Class 1 felonies each punishable by up to 15 years in prison; and one count of failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Fiferlick is detained at the Jo Daviess County Jail, and his next court hearing is Nov. 12.

“These charges represent just how life altering child exploitation truly is,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to prioritize our efforts to hold predators accountable for the life-long scars they force survivors and their families to live with.”

In August, Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s office with assistance from Illinois State Police and Raoul’s Digital Forensic Examiners, searched Fiferlick’s home on Maple Court in East Dubuque. Following an investigation and upon the discovery of child sexual abuse material, Raoul’s office indicted Fiferlick at the Statewide Grand Jury Oct. 9. Fiferlick was then arrested by the sheriff’s office. 

Raoul’s office is prosecuting the case with Jo Daviess County State’s Attorney Chris Allendorf. 

“The technological complexity and seriousness of the alleged crimes in this case require bringing all possible resources to bear. That is why I requested assistance from the expert investigators and prosecutors with Illinois Attorney General Raoul’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC),” Allendorf said. “My office has had the privilege of working with the dedicated members of ICAC on other cases, and both Attorney General Raoul and his staff have never hesitated to provide assistance. This type of case is a great example of bringing resources together to advance the shared goal of protecting our communities, especially children, and I look forward to working with Attorney General Raoul’s office again throughout this case.” 

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 82,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,150 arrests of sexual predators. In 2025, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 30 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to over 1 million parents, teachers, students and more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals. 

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org. 

Bureau Chief Shannon O’Brien is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.